The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect timing in everything! You’re never late, but You’re always on time. Help me to understand Your purpose and timing when life gets confusing. I don’t always understand why I have to wait, but I do know that You have a sovereign plan. May I trust You in the plan and rest in the knowledge that You are not surprised by anything. Grant me the grace to trust Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name I ask. . . Amen.
God’s Word Today—Romans 1:8-15
8 Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you. 9 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 telling others the Good News about His Son. 10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.
13 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 good results, just as I have done among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God’s Good News.
Reflecting on God’s Word
In Romans 1:9-10 the apostle Paul tells the Christians in Rome that he constantly kept them in his prayers. One of the specific things he prayed for was the opportunity to come and visit them. He mentions in verse 13 that he planned to visit Rome many times, but he was hindered in coming. For one reason or another, Paul tried to travel to Rome, but the providence of God kept him from coming. We don’t know all of the reasons why Paul couldn’t come, as there is little information as to the nature of his hindrances. We do know, however, that in A.D. 49 there was an imperial edict from the Roman Caesar, Claudius, who massively expelled Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2). Paul, having a Jewish background, could not have entered the city at this time. This reason, along with others, prevented Paul from coming. Paul had to learn God’s perfect timing. Though his own plans might have been frustrated, God’s plans were perfect and unchanging. Paul had to learn to rely upon God’s sovereign plan. Paul might have gone sooner to Rome if it were totally up to him, but it wasn’t. It was up to God. The timing of God is best, it’s a lesson Paul had to learn, and it’s a lesson we must learn as well.
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans in A.D. 57, he had never visited the church in Rome. Historical background tells us that the Roman church probably began 25 years prior to Paul’s letter – about the time of Pentecost. Paul, himself had been in ministry much of that time. It’s likely that Paul’s hindrance in coming to Rome was over 20 years!
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
God has a plan and it hasn’t changed! He doesn’t have an alternative plan or another way of doing it, but His ways are perfect and unchanging. We are called to “rest” in His wonderful plan. The question is -- why does God make us wait for Him?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
What is a plan that you have made in which God has called you to wait? How good are you at waiting?
Why is God’s timing better than our own?
Thoughts
God says in His Word that “His ways are above our own.” It sometimes can be quite frustrating when we’re waiting for God to do something, and it doesn’t happen when we would like it to. I’ve talked with many parents and grandparents, who’ve prayed for their children and grandchildren to be saved, and nothing seems to happen. I’ve talked with others who are upset because they couldn’t find a good job when they wanted it, or others who wanted to be married by now, but are still single. Have you ever noticed that much of life is about waiting? Paul knew about this. Though his own plans seemed to be frustrated, he knew that God’s ways were best. He didn’t necessarily understand God’s timing, and perhaps would have done it differently himself, but he learned to trust in the providence and sovereignty of God. It may seem as if God will never answer, but He’s never late! He’s always on time! Paul had to wait, but God had a higher purpose. If Paul would have traveled sooner to Rome, perhaps we wouldn’t even have a book in the Bible called “Romans!” Let God be God, and trust Him in His perfect timing.
This Week’s Memory Verse:
I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12b