Saving Some of Them Romans 11:14

Paul the apostle asked the people in Rome, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office”, and in chapter eleven and verse fourteen of Romans, Paul told the people in Rome concerning the Jews how he desired to, “save some of them” where we read:

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

The verse begins, “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, ...” Paul began with the words, “if by any means” which means “whether through in what way and manner” “I may provoke to emulation” which refers to “Paul exciting and stimulating to rivalry, anger or jealousy” “them which are my flesh” which means “the people of Israel who are of Paul's natural or physical origin, generation or relationship”. Paul shared how he used his “office” as an “apostle” to “excite and stimulate” to “jealousy” his own people Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “... and might save some of them.”. Paul continued with the words, “and might save” which means “have the possibility of keeping safe and sound and rescuing from danger or destruction” “some of them” or “certain ones of the people from Israel”. Paul knew he might “rescue” “some” of the people of Israel by provoking them to “jealousy”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how important it was to him that his own people of Israel be saved. Though he would “provoke them to jealousy”, Paul wanted “some” of the Israelites to know Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. God desires for everyone to have a relationship with Him, and this relationship is enjoyed by “receiving” His Son Jesus into their lives. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, was raised from the dead three days later and now offers “everlasting life” to everyone who “believes and trusts” in Him. Let everyone who reads these words by a part of the “some” whom Paul desired to “save”.

Next time Paul tells his readers what happens, “if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.