Paul begins most of his letters with a prayer. The prayer is an expression of his heart’s desire for the people who will receive the letter. It also frequently indicates major themes that he wants to emphasize in his letter.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,
Always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you (Romans 1.8-10).
Paul told the church he was grateful because their faith was being talked about everywhere he had traveled.
An old man got on an airplane for the first time. He told the flight attendant that he was nervous about flying since it was his first time to be in the air.
When they safely landed at his destination, the attendant asked him, “How was your flight?” He said, “It was pretty good, but I want you to know I never put my full weight on it.”
Paul thanked God for the church, because unlike the man, they put their full weight on Jesus. They had recently gone through intense persecution, and yet they still trusted Jesus. Their faith was being talked about throughout the known world.
One of the best practices Christians can have is to follow Paul’s example of praying daily for the people that God has impressed upon our hearts. What a gift to give the time, love, and energy of our prayers for people in our sphere of influence!
Spiritual Friends
Paul knew that he had gifts, originating from the Holy Spirit, to impart to the Roman Church. He also knew that they had gifts from the Spirit to give to him.
For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;
That is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine (Romans 1.11-12).
Spiritual friends are used by God to give gifts from the Spirit to one another. They also encourage each other with their faith. The fact that people fully rely upon the Lord and live it out in their daily lives gives us the strength to do the same.
Pause for a moment and think about the people you would consider to be spiritual friends in your life. Are there individuals who encourage you and, likewise, whom you strengthen in the faith?
If not, what needs to take place for you to begin having a group of spiritual friends that can rely on you and you on them?
Paul’s Trip Delayed
Paul’s purpose in writing Romans was to gather their support to join him on a mission to Spain. He had been prevented and was praying that God would allow him to come to Rome and join them in the work.
I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even 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, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome (Romans 1.13-15).
Think about a house or a car payment. It is a debt or an obligation that you must pay.
Paul felt a similar sense of duty to preach the gospel to all sorts of people everywhere he went. He saw his mission as an obligation or a debt that must be paid.
Paul had been rescued by the love of God on the road to Damascus, and he felt indebted to all to see that they received God’s forgiveness and freedom through Jesus Christ.
Today’s Response
As we prayerfully consider Paul’s opening prayer to the Romans, we can ask ourselves a few questions.
(1) Do we have people for whom we pray daily?
(2) Do we pray about their faith and relationship with the Lord?
(3) Do we have a group of spiritual friends whom we encourage and the us?
(4) Are we intent on sharing the good news of Jesus everywhere we go?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 