1. Great sorrow and unceasing anguish (1-3)

Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles, but he was first of all a Jew. His heart was broken because his own people rejected the Messiah and rejected God's mission. He would have exchanged his own salvation for theirs, had it been possible.

2. Israel's privileges (4-5)

Israel enjoyed the privilege of being God's 'firstborn son' (Ex 4). God dwelt with them and showed them his glory in the desert (Ex 16:10). He gave them the Bible--the Old and New Covenants; he provided a way of forgiveness and a way into his very presence through temple worship. He gave them great men of faith as ancestors; but their greatest glory was the Christ, who is God over all. Everything else pointed to him. They enjoyed all the privileges of being God's people, but they rejected Christ. So they lost everything. We must not take our Christian heritage for granted and miss the point--which is knowing and serving Jesus himself, who is God over all.

Application: Lord, I praise Christ who is Lord of all. Help me to be faithful to the mission he gave me.
One Word: Don't lose the point