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What is the point? In His Word 7-21-2025
We know the story of Paul; his Damascus story is famous! He
was the guy who thought that killing the Jews was benefiting God. He had a rude
awakening when Jesus stopped him, and he became blind! The good news is that He was blinded physically
so that he could be sight seeing spiritually. What was the point in him going
through that? God had a plan!
Later on in his story this is what Paul had to say, in the
book of Romans. We will be studying from here for a few weeks, or months
depending on how long it takes! So, let’s
get into it!
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by
God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through
his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The
Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s
family line, and he was shown to be the
Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He
is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through
Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell
Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and
obey him, bringing glory to his name. And you are included among those Gentiles
who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-6
In the book of Romans we will be following the road to
salvation via the chapters and verses that show even the most timid reader and believer
how to share the gospel with others with out fear of getting it wrong!
They call it “Roman’s Road”.
Looking at the first chapter, from verses 1 to 16 Paul is
thanking the believers for being believers and living in faith. He then goes on
to encourage them about his praying for them and how much he longs to visit
them and walk with them in their faith walk. He notes how much importance there
is to walk in Christ, and not be ashamed to share the good news of Jesus Christ
dying on the cross so that we could be released from our sins and gain new life
in Him.
So, what is the point in writing to the Romans about this? Why
do we read about these people knowing that Jesus is Lord and what can we do to help others understand through this written
letter?
Well for starters it gives us an example of how to live! We
are taught here how to pray for one another, and to encourage one another to
walk worthy of our callings. We are shown how to reach out to one another as
well and let them know they are not forgotten.
Sometimes, you may not know what’s going on in someone’s
life unless you reach out and say ‘hello, how are ya?’Not everyone goes around
telling you what’s happening. In fact, not everyone posts on Instagram or Facebook,
or any other media when they are hurt, or feeling sick, or trying to understand
the problems they face in life. But when we stop and reach out to them via
phone or email, or text we can ask about them. Of course, I am talking about people
too far away to walk over and talk to them or pop in to say Hi! You can do that
too! I encourage it a lot!
Still, when we have people who are too busy at work, or
cannot have visitors, or are so many miles away sending a message can make their
days!
Just the encouragement that we know that they are going
through a rough spot and that they are doing great leaning on Jesus to support
them but that also we are here is often the turning point for someone who is grieving
or feeling alone.
Wow, did you get that from reading these first verses?
Lets read on to verse 17.
Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ
for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the
world. God knows how often I pray for
you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve
with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. One of the things I
always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For
I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you
grow strong in the Lord. When we get
together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be
encouraged by yours. I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I
planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work
among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to
people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated
and uneducated alike.
So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the
Good News. For I am not ashamed of this
Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who
believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God
makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by
faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has
life.” Romans 1:7-17
I find that Paul shares my heart sometimes, this time I read
about how much he has tried to go visit these believers and yet things kept
getting in the way. I feel that way about people I love sometimes, I want to go
spend time with them, sit and have coffee and chat, maybe share a meal… but
life happens and stuff gets in the way. Cars break, body aches, and illnesses
happen today that stop us from getting together with those whom we hold dear to
our hearts.
The good news is that we can let them know we are trying! We
can pray and ask God to provide from them, and for us to get to visit! Then we
have to accept the things as they come. Like Paul here, he encourages them to
know he was working on getting there, and that finally it seemed he could! It was important for him to let them know…
that is what stands out here! He wanted to work along side them for the
furtherance of the kingdom of God, in Rome!
Sometimes we cannot do what we want when we want to, but we
can trust that God’s timing is perfect and know in our hearts and minds that He
will make the way when and if need be! In His Time!
In His love,
Teresa Wilson
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