Romans 10:1-2 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
What strikes me about verses 1-3 is that the Israelites have zeal but it’s not based in knowledge, and since they did not know God’s righteousness, they established their own idea of righteousness, which pushed them even further from God.
Romans 10:3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
That sounds so incredibly, frighteningly human. “I want God’s righteousness, but I don’t understand it, so I will create rules that allow me to say (and feel): I have kept all these rules; therefore, I am righteous.” A human construct masquerading as a biblical truth, which brings the seeker no closer to the goal of righteousness.
Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Lord, Humans sometimes do ridiculous things in the name of trying to draw closer to You. Forgive us. Thank You that You are accessible, that You desire relationship with us. Help me, daily, to believe with my heart and profess with my mouth and draw closer to You. Amen.
Romans 10:11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Have a blessed day.