Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“THE WITNESSES OF OUT HEART”

Paul begins Romans 9 with an assurance claim that what he is getting ready to claim is resting on truth! His subject is about his great care and concern for the lost souls of Israel! Paul writes that he has “great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart” (Romans 9:2.) This expression of sorrow that he writes of is not just a casual care or concern, it’s a deeply rooted concern that will not go away. Paul is deeply troubled by the lostness of his fellow Israelite kinsmen.

The reality of his professed care and concern for their lost souls is based upon three undeniable witnesses. In other words, talk is cheap, and mere words does not mean that they carry weight. Paul gives the validity of his care for souls and rests it on the account of three witnesses. Those witnesses are Christ, his conscience, and The Holy Ghost.

Christ knows the professed sorrow of Paul’s heart for his fellow Jew! It is witnessed by Christ! The salvation that they desperately need is found in the truth of Christ as Messiah. His desire for their salvation is resting on “The Truth, Christ Jesus” (John 14:6.) The second person that is witness to Paul’s concern for souls is his very own conscience. Conscience is an internal judgement, self-knowledge, and faculty of right and wrong. (Mason Soft Technology , 2025)

Paul had a deeply rooted conviction and sorrow for the souls of his Jewish kinsmen, and his conscience would not allow him to escape it. Third and final, Paul’s sorrow for souls was witnessed by the Holy Ghost. Paul’s claim of his conscience being a witness of his sorrow was verified by the Holy Ghost. Sorrow for souls is not a natural desire; it’s a desire birthed within us by the Holy Ghost!

There is something for all Christians to ponder concerning this passage; whatever our level of concern for the lost around us, whether it be deep care and conviction, or little to none; these same three witnesses that Paul speaks of are witnesses of our level of sorrow for souls too! These three witnesses do not lie, their account of our sorrow or lack thereof for souls is rooted in truth.  We cannot kid ourselves and we cannot kid others about our concern for souls. Christ knows the truth, our very own conscience knows the truth, and the Holy Ghost knows the truth! Are you willing to prayerfully seek the three witnesses to determine where your heart is for lost souls? They will not lie to you!

Romans 9:1, 2—”¹ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, ² That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.”