Romans 9:1-5
In today’s readings from Matthew and Romans we see that compassion for others is a sign of the Christian faith.
Listen again to the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples, reading from Matthew 14:15-16.
14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."
16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
In some ways the disciples are a lot like people today,
they have a knack on being too narrowly focussed.
Of limiting what can be done.
Of limiting Jesus’ and limiting their responsibility.
On the surface the disciple’s approach appears to be a natural solution
a lot of people followed Jesus to a remote area,
they weren’t forced there,
they have the ability and the option of going to places to buy foo.d
And there is not much to eat and there are no McDonalds close by so why not send them back to the villages to buy food.
However there is one big problem to their solution.
And it is that it is totally their solution.
They attempt to tell Jesus what He should be doing.
Rather than asking Jesus how they can support Him in His ministry.
And this is a trap we can all fall into.
Each one of us is called to be part of Jesus’ ministry team.
The body of Christ.
However often we want to determine what boundaries and restrictions we should put in place.
Sometimes this is even done without spending time in prayer and bible reading,
where we seek His guidance on how we are to be part of His ministry here in Burnie/Devonport/Launceston.
It is true boundaries are necessary for everyone.
However when we set boundaries we need to have Jesus’ perspective on what the boundaries should look like.
This involves looking for ways we can help people remain close to him.
This involves tackling difficult situations so that rather than saying we can’t do something, we investigate and be creative in looking at ways to provide ministry.
And this involves not asking whether someone deserves ministry but rather, how can we be generous in ministering to all those who come in contact with us, especially those who are not part of our community.
Consider the story of Oswald Golter.
After ten years service as a missionary in China Oswald Golter, was on His way home.
His ship stopped in India, and while waiting for the connecting boat home he found a group of refugees living in a warehouse on the pier.
They were unwanted, so they were stranded.
Golter went to visit them.
As it was Christmas time he wished them a merry Christmas and asked them what they would like for Christmas.
"We’re not Christians," they said. "We don’t believe in Christmas."
"I know," said the missionary, "but what do you want for Christmas?"
They described some German pastries they were particularly fond of
So Oswald Golter cashed in his ticket home, used the money to buy baskets and baskets of the pastries, took them to the refugees, and wished them a merry Christmas.
When he later told the story, a student said,
"But sir, why did you do that for them?
They weren’t Christians.
They don’t even believe in Jesus."
"I know," he replied, "but I do!"
Do you believe in Jesus?
The Christian Church is a unique organisation.
We are not a club, here to look after ourselves but we are here to be disciples for Jesus Christ.
And in being disciples, our responsibilities extend to making disciples of all types of people.
In other words we exist for those who are not currently at church.
Who do not currently believe in Jesus Christ
God is calling each of us to go out of our way for others.
To bring the compassion of Christ to them, sharing the Gospel in our words and actions.
Not because they are Christians
But because we are Christians.
And Paul in today’s reading from Romans 9 provides us with a further example of this compassion
reading from verse 2 in the New Living Translation,
2My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that would save them.
Paul was prepared to give up his own salvation if that meant His Jewish brothers and sisters would be saved.
Would you do that???
It is a pretty big ask isn’t it.
Many parents are prepared to sacrifice a lot for their children,
although it appears that in some circles even this is disappearing.
But would you be prepared to give up your salvation so someone else could be saved??
Paul was prepared to do it, if it would benefit someone else.
Would you?
However Paul also knew the Good News.
And giving up our own salvation is something that the true God will never ask us to do
and nor will it achieve anything of value for us or another person.
And Paul knew this
because salvation
eternal Life
the riches of heaven are only available to us
through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
and us having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Something which John 14:6, reminds us.
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
And also from John 1:16-17
16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Now attempting to have a spiritual relationship with God without Jesus
Is not only an issue for the Jews of Paul’s time but also for many people today.
Many people want God’s blessings.
The better life that God offers.
But they want it without Jesus Christ.
And instead of Jesus Christ they rely on their own abilities.
Their own achievements of living up to God’s standards.
Sometimes they attach themselves to the things of the past.
Rather than to the future that is available through Jesus Christ.
And this is what made Paul so upset
Not angry….But upset,
because people he was close to were going to miss out on the compassion that only Jesus Christ can offer.
And for Paul Jesus Christ was the ultimate.
Jesus Christ and the blessings that He offers
are the most important thing in this life and the life beyond.
They are so good that Paul didn’t want to keep them only for himself
he wants others to experience the compassion and love of Jesus, especially those who are closest to him.
Ever had something that you felt was fantastic.
Was extremely good that you wanted others to experience it.
Maybe it was a cake or a recipe.
Or perhaps a book or a movie.
Or a particular experience.
Or perhaps even some recent good news about an event.
But when people are not interested.
Or don’t respond enthusiastically as you.
It can be disappointing.
This was the situation Paul was experiencing.
To understand this text we need to remember that Paul was once called Saul.
At one stage in His life he violently rejected Jesus Christ as the true God.
But after his experience with Jesus, as recorded in Acts 9
Paul became passionate about Jesus being God
And convinced that everyone needed Jesus.
A lot of the people he knew well and he was closest to rejected the unconditional gift of Jesus Christ.
But this very gift meant that Paul still had compassion and a heart for them.
He wanted them to know that Jesus Christ was the true God
the Messiah, the fulfilment of the Jewish scriptures, our Old Testament.
He wanted them desperately not to miss out on the benefits of Jesus Christ.
The love and the compassion that only Jesus Christ offers.
If we look at our lives many of us are in Paul’s situation,
we are close to people,
who do not accept Jesus as the true God,
and Paul shows us what it is to have compassion in such situations.
We are being compassionate when we do not give up on such people.
When we would do anything that is biblically possible so that they can hear and know that Jesus loves them.
We are compassionate when we want them to accept Jesus Christ as their gift from God.
As their true God.
A God that loves them, that cares for them.
This could involve praying for people.
This at times may mean taking risks in our established relationships to pass on God’s grace and generosity to people.
It means looking for opportunities to connect the people we know to the Jesus we know.
Someone once said when considering whether it was worthwhile to speak about Jesus to his friends and family,
was that he asked the question what would he rather, a friend on earth or his friend in heaven?
This is not about forcing people to hear the bible or judging them.
It is about sharing Jesus compassion with them in words and actions.
And in connecting people to Jesus we are also being compassionate when we help them develop relationships in a Christian church.
Now some people may say isn’t the church just a human institution.
Does it really matter whether someone comes to church or not?
Biblically, the answer is both yes and no.
According to the Bible, the Christian Church is the “Bride of Christ”; i.e. a spiritual community chosen by God and established in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Biblically, the Christian faith is given, nourished and upheld in the Church.
This Church, like all forms of human cooperation, has an institutional form.
But within that institution, the Holy Spirit works and faith thrives.
Taking an individual out of worshipping congregation is like taking a red hot ember out of the fire:
soon the ember becomes ash.
It loses connection to the central fire.
So it is important that we as the whole body of Christ are concerned about people who are not in church, it is a spiritual necessity.
We are also being truly compassionate when we are clear,
like Paul and John
that Jesus is only the way to eternal life.
One of my biggest frustrations in life is when I receive wrong information or directions.
Every had this happen?
Unfortunately it is often from nice people.
Are you offering clear direction to God to your friends and neighbours?
So let us pray that we maybe as passionate and compassionate as Paul in sharing the Gospel
Gracious God
We thank for the example of Paul as one of your passionate and compassionate followers
Help us to receive the gifts and blessings you offer each one of us through your son Jesus Christ
And to share these with the people we know
In a passionate and compassionate way
Amen
