Romans 9 draws us into the heart of the Apostle Paul—a man who loved his people so deeply he would have given up his own salvation if it meant they could be saved. In a culture that prizes self-reliance, Paul reminds us that true confidence is found only in Christ. He wept for Israel, a people who had been given God’s presence, promises, law, and covenants, yet missed the very Messiah standing before them.

Paul’s sorrow mirrors the heart of Christ, who also wept over Jerusalem. Yet this passage is more than lament; it is a declaration of God’s faithfulness. Not all who are descended from Abraham belong to the true Israel. The real children of the promise are born by faith, not by flesh—like Isaac, born through God’s miraculous power. Every believer in Christ is born through the miracle of grace.

Romans 9 reminds us that salvation is never earned through works or heritage but flows from God’s mercy and sovereign calling. Even before Jacob and Esau were born, God chose to display His purpose through them. His choice highlights His grace and sovereignty, not human merit. We are children of the promise—not by lineage, but by love; not by birthright, but by belief. May our hearts break for those who do not yet know this truth, and may we, like Paul, love and pray for them, trusting that God still calls people by name, by grace, and by promise to Himself. How might embracing this truth shape the way you love, pray, and live today?