The Jews misunderstood and persecuted Paul. Nevertheless, he genuinely loved His people. When he stood on the steps of the Roman barracks to speak, he addressed them as “brothers and fathers.” In many of his epistles, he expressed how much he loved his people (e.g. Rom. 9:2-5).

Before meeting Christ, however, his love for his people was misguided. His zeal for God was without knowledge just like his people the Jews. He thought, just as they did, that they were loving God when they persecuted the followers of “the Way,” even to their death.

It all changed for Paul when the resurrected Jesus met him as a bright light from heaven on his way to Damascus to bring Christians as prisoners to Jerusalem. Now, Paul knew what it meant to love his people because “the God of our ancestors” had chosen him to know his will. To love his people is to help them to know God’s love and his will for them. As believers, we must love our country and our people whom we call brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. National pride is not true love for our nation. True love for our nation is to pray for our people and serve them until they become a holy nation and a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:5,6).
Application: Father, thank you for giving me a people, whom I call brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. Help me love them with godly love. Amen.
One Word: Love God and love your country