Romans 1:8-15

                                                                 Romans 1:8-15

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention youalways in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[c]that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

 

As Paul greets the Roman church, he recognizes the reputation of their faith and then describes his deep desire to be with them.  Paul understands the importance of mutual edification and is anxious to both give and receive it in Rome.  He feels a burden of responsibility to all men and longs to enjoy the benefits of obedience.  A love for the body of Christ throughout the world is an important part of our walk with Christ.  We should seek every opportunity to express that love.

 

THANKING FOR FAITH: The faith of the Roman church has become known throughout the empire and has become known to Paul as well.  He expresses his gratitude for the work that the Lord is doing in the church.  It is a place that Paul has not gone but was likely the place to which many of his acquaintances from other places had migrated.  The health of the body of Christ in every place is a blessing that should encourage the body of Christ everywhere.  Too often, we find believers who live in competition with one another.  Paul was not jealous or threatened by the health of a church that he had not planted.  His joy was complete because he was part of that same body.

 

PRAYING TO FORTIFY: Paul lifts this church before the Lord in prayer and is diligently asking for the Lord to give him the opportunity to minister in the city.  His desire is to edify the body and be edified by them.  Paul was not proud in a way that would cause him to think that he had nothing to learn from the church in Rome.  He recognized that he too needed to be lifted up by the body there.  Leaders can think that they don’t need others.  Those who are led by the Spirit understand that they are vulnerable and in need of help from others.

 

LONGING FOR FRUIT: The other reason Paul longs to go to Rome is so he can participate in the spiritual harvest the Lord is bringing in that place.  Paul recognizes that there are eternal rewards associated with investing in the lives of people.  He wants his life to count for eternity and the best way to do that is to invest in others.  He desires and opportunity to bear fruit in the lives of people.  It is so easy to get distracted from that which is eternal by the cares of this passing life.  We must always be focused on the value of the eternal.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t be in competition with other believers.  Rejoice in the victories of the body of Christ even if we have nothing to do with it.  Participate in the lives of others in a way that is edifying and recognize our need to be edified by others too.  Invest our time in people because they are eternal and don’t be distracted by the passing pleasures and projects of this world.

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