When Paul wrote the book of Romans, he told the church that his “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (10:1), and he went so far as to say, “I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,” so that they might be saved (9:3). Paul wanted all people to be saved, but have you ever considered what these folks had done to him?
They spent time “contradicting and blaspheming” and “opposed the things” that he spoke (Acts 13:45). They “stirred up” a revolt, “raised up persecution” and “expelled” Paul from their region (13:50). They “poisoned” the minds of the multitudes (14:2) and made a “violent attempt…to abuse and stone” (14:5). Eventually they “stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city” (14:19).
Yet, after years and years of this kind of treatment, he was still willing to be accursed from Christ, if that meant they could be saved. Paul looked beyond himself to the eternal salvation of even his enemies. Here’s the question: Do we do that for those who have done us wrong?