"For the Sake of My Brothers"

Word Traveler

"my daily encounter with God through His Word"

Dave Scriven

Location: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Birthday: October 06

Title: Principal Broker
Company: RE/MAX

Bio: This site is a two year writing experiment I call "P, B & J" (Prayer, Bible, and Journal) which follows a two year Bible reading plan. (A link to this reading plan is at My Links below.) As I read Bible, I look for an inspirational verse and write about it. These articles are my P, B & J journal entries. I hope you enjoy them. ________________________________ Bible guy, happily married, 7 kids, 1 cool grandkid, Realtor. If you want more, check out "My Story" at My Links below. Thanks! _______________________________ Credits: The black and white graphic of Moses at left of title bar is used by permission and entitled "The Spoken Law" by my friend and excellent comic book illustrator, Paul Gulacy.

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March 21, 2011 12:03PM
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March 21, 2011 09:43AM

MY RECENT COMMENTS

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Dave Scriven's Links

New list: My Story; 423 Men; Word Traveler; 2011 Bible Reading Plan; Artist Writer Mary Ann Farley

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JUNE 28, 2010 12:13PM

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Romans 9:1-4a NIV

“I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my con- science confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and un- ceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.”

How much do I love my brothers? Enough to serve them selflessly on rare occasion. Yes. Enough to die for them? Perhaps, if given the choice to be a hero I might act impulsively on behalf of others. Enough to give up my salvation and suffer eternal separation from God? Absolutely not. Emphatically no!

Was Paul crazy? He claimed he would sacrifice his eternal future with Christ “for the sake of his brothers”. The Living Bible paraphrases the apostle: “I would be willing to be forever damned if that would save you” (Romans 9.3). Even if Paul was under emotional stress (“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart”) or tended to exaggerate, nevertheless it appears he believed what he said to be true:

“I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying,

my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit”

Romans 9:1 NIV

Paul’s statement sounds audacious, fantastic, impudent. Was his ‘messianic ego’ running wild? Did he honestly think the sacrifice of his eternal destiny could secure the salvation of his brothers? Or, was it love? Did Paul literally love his people enough that if he could (trade his salvation for theirs), he would? A similar offer was made by Moses over 1,000 years earlier and recorded in the book of Exodus:

“But now, please forgive their sin – but if not,

then blot me out of the book You have written.”

Exodus 32.32 NIV

Is this what it takes to be a leader? If so, count me out. I would never qualify! But I follow One who does. One who made Himself “cursed and cut off from” God for me and my brothers:

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is, being interpreted,

‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ ”
Mark 15:34 KJV

For my sake and “for the sake of my brothers” Jesus was willing to forsake it all.

________________

The inspiring image of Jesus on the cross by IZZYGALVEZ (2007) is featured on Photobucket (http://media.photobucket.com/image/jesus%20on%20cross/izzygalvez/IZZYGALVEZ-JesusCross-John3-16-Sepi.jpg).