Felipe Garza was 15 when he gave away his heart. His girlfriend Donna Ashlock had become critically ill and needed a heart transplant. One day he told his mom, quite unexplainably, "I'm going to die, and I'm going to give my heart to my girlfriend." He died suddenly 3 weeks later when a blood vessel ruptured in his brain. Doctors then took Felipe's heart and gave it to Donna, saving her life.

That boy's love illustrates Paul's wish for his Jewish countrymen. He too spoke of giving his life so that others could live. Paul, though, was thinking of eternal life. He said that if it were possible (and he knew it wasn't), he would endure the loss of his eternal salvation if that would result in the salvation of the people he loved so much (Romans 9:3).

In spite of his desire to rescue the people he loved from an eternity apart from Christ, Paul couldn't endure hell for his countrymen. Yet his expression of love reminds us of what Jesus Christ did. He really did endure hell for us. He really did give His life so that we might live.

Lord, we know we can't die to gain the salvation of someone else. But by Your Spirit give us a love that cares more for the eternal well-being of others than our own temporary comfort. To You and to them, we give our heart.  — Mart De Haan