Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
What is the greatest desire of your heart? What should it be? In Romans 9-11 we have one of the deepest, but also toughest sections of Theology. In this section we have a complete breakdown of election - the act of God choosing those He wants to save and choosing (and even actually creating) those upon who He wants to demonstrate His wrath. You have to read the section multiple times and, by the faith He gives you, accept the words stated by the Apostle Paul. The fact that is section is so deep on election makes it even more amazing what Paul says about our part in sharing the gospel with the lost. In 9:2 we read that Paul says he would give up his own salvation for his kinsmen in the flesh ... his people. In light of election that is a ridiculous statement. Never-the-less it shows Paul's understanding of His role in the salvation of others. His point is that if God "chooses" those He wants to save He also will choose those He wants to use as instruments to lead them to salvation. That point leads Paul to the above verse. His greatest desire and deepest and most earnest prayer is for the salvation of his brothers in the flesh, the Nation of Israel. Paul understood his role in the salvation process (later in this chapter we read about the need for a "preacher" to tell others about Christ). Paul's greatest desire is the salvation of those he wants to see come to Christ. We can pray for many things. But frankly praying for the closing of a house, a better job, or even the health of someone we know, pales in comparison to what Paul's greatest desire in prayer is all about. How much time in our weekly prayer journal would we find notes and comments about those we are praying will be saved? We have many deep desires in our prayers, but do we actually spend time praying and desiring that those around us will find Christ?
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