Section 2
grief and unceasing pain in his heart (v. 2). This was the pain Paul suffered for his kinsmen that they might be saved.
"For I was praying that I myself would be a curse, separated from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (v. 3). This is a serious prayer. Paul prayed in such an ear nest way because of his desire for Israel to be saved. To pray that Israel be saved was necessary, but to pray that he be a curse was too extreme. Regardless of how spiritual we may be and how much in our spirit we may be, it is still possible for us to utter a prayer in a way that is not of the Lord. When Paul was praying that he might be a curse, separated from Christ, I do not believe that it was of the Lord. Do you believe that the Lord compelled Paul to pray that he become a curse, separated from Christ? I do not think that the Lord required this of him. Then what motivated him to pray this way? Paul's intense desire. He prayed this way because of his great love for his kinsmen.
Many times we have an intense desire for a certain thing and that desire causes us to utter a prayer in an extreme way. A brother may pray for his wife who is seriously ill, praying desper ately in every way, even with fasting. The Lord