“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” – Romans 10:1-2
Today, there are countless people around the world who are genuinely zealous to know God but don’t. They know God exists, they acknowledge and perhaps even want to submit to Him. They yearn to know their Creator but they don’t have saving knowledge of Jesus. They have zeal for God but not according to knowledge, just as Paul describes. They’re missing knowledge about Jesus. Jesus was very clear that He is the one and only way, truth, and life. Apart from knowing Him as He truly is, the resurrected Son of God, it’s impossible for anyone to come to God the Father.
The question for you, if you’re a follower of Jesus, is “Is it your heart’s desire and prayer to God that they might be saved?” Paul was filled with concern for them. It drove much of his work and caused him great sorrow. His soul ached for those who wanted to know God but didn’t know Jesus. He prayed for them, wept for them, and shared the saving knowledge of Jesus with them. Is your heart filled with a desire for those who are seeking God apart from Jesus to know the truth? If not, spend time thinking about them, their zeal, and their present eternal fate apart from Jesus.
This is a call to evangelism and to missions. God’s mission is to redeem people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation by grace through faith in His Son Jesus. Are you part of His mission? If not, spend time reflecting on Paul’s concern for those who hadn’t yet embraced Jesus and pray for God to give you a similar burden for those zealous for Him but lacking saving knowledge of Jesus.
As a follower of Jesus, get involved in doing His Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching people to obey Him. Learn about missions and the global effort to reach the unreached peoples of the world. Pray for God’s mission and missionaries. Contribute to God’s missionary work by sending missionaries, welcoming missionaries, supporting missions financially, and going yourself. Let your heart be burdened for those who don’t yet know Jesus, then do something about them! #FollowJesus