I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Romans 9:1-2

This evening we made a trip to Mount Rushmore. We walked around the monument and looked through the exhibits and watched a short film about the meaning and the making of this vast undertaking. Near the end of the film one of the workers said that when he first started working on the project, it was just a job and nothing more, but as he spent more and more time on the mountain side, he realized he was part of something bigger – something with real significance.

I’ve known people who are dedicated to their careers because they are part of a greater good. In fact, I think that we all have a longing to live for something bigger than ourselves, but how often do I personally really think about others?

In the passage above, Paul expressed his greatest desire for his Jewish brothers and sisters. He was willing to give up everything for his people. The Holy Spirit confirmed his conviction that Paul was willing to be “cut off from Christ” so that his own brothers – his race- the descendants of Abraham – could experience the Salvation of God.

From early in Paul’s life he was focused on being part of something bigger. When he was a Pharisee, he was completed dedicated to ridding the world of people who followed Christ. But, once he encountered the living Christ, life changed for Paul. His primary goal was to reach others with the message of the Gospel, to the point that he was willing to sacrifice his own life for the life of his brothers.

What is it that drives you? Where do you find meaning?