Desires, the things we desire will greatly impact the choices that we make in life.
The apostle Paul expressed some of his desires. I’d like to point them out to you because I think it really does make a difference. Before the Apostle Paul came to Jesus, he was a very ambitious person. Everything he did, he went all out. When it came to persecuting the Christians, he was right there, at the front of the line. When it came to keeping the law. He described himself as being more zealous than anybody. But when he came to faith in Christ, it changed his desires.
The first desire that I’d like to speak about is found in Romans chapter 10, verse number one, brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they might be saved.
The apostle Paul had a great desire to see people, especially his kinsmen, according to the flesh, his Jewish friends, and neighbors and family. He truly wanted them to come to Christ. He wanted them to be saved, to be delivered from the bondage of sin, and even the bondage of religious self-righteousness.
And so I want you to notice what he did, he prayed. I do encourage you to be a person of prayer for those who do not know Christ. In fact, before we speak to them, we should spend time praying for them, that God might work in their hearts.
Another way that we see this desire of Paul to see people saved expressed, is in First Corinthians chapter nine, starting with verse 22, to the week, I became weak, that I might win the week, I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some. I do it all, for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
The apostle Paul had that attitude that we talked about all the time at The Bridge Church, whatever it takes. He was willing to become all things to all people that he might save some.
So I encourage you to have a holy ambition, a desire to see people come to Jesus, to pray for them, and to be willing to do whatever it takes.