The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gifts You have given me! Every good thing that I have is from You. Help me to honor You with my gifts and talents, and be a blessing to others around me today. May my life impart spiritual blessings to those who come in contact with me. I ask for Your blessing today so that I can bless others. I ask this in Jesus’ name. . . 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 1:8-15, the apostle Paul reveals his threefold purpose in his coming visit to Rome. His first purpose, mentioned in verse 11, was “to impart a spiritual gift.” (We will look at the next two the days ahead). He says, “For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing (“gift”) with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord.” We don’t know the specific gift Paul was referring to, as it’s not important for us to know. We do know that Paul desired to impart a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit for the edification and blessing of the church. As an apostle, Jesus gave him the authority to lay hands on people to receive a gift of the Spirit as the Holy Spirit decided. For exampled, Paul laid his hands on Timothy to receive a gift of the Spirit (2 Tim. 1:6). They laying of hands way often done by the apostles to impart spiritual gifts to believers. We cannot say that only the apostles could do this, as Paul himself received the Spirit through the laying on of Ananias’ hands – who was not an apostle (Acts 9:17). We do know, however, that as an apostle of Jesus, Paul frequently laid his hands on people for the purpose of receiving a spiritual gift – which is what he intended to do in Rome.
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
The laying of hands to impart spiritual blessing was, and still is, proper for Christians to practice and participate in. We actually can become channels, allowing God’s power to flow through us. This power does not come from us, but from God alone. He, however, chooses to use us a “conduits” of His grace and power!
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
Several years ago Rick Warren wrote the book The Purpose Driven Life, which encourages us to discover God’s purpose in our lives. The apostle Paul was a “purpose driven” man. Everything he did was with purpose! His intentions to come to Rome were with purpose – he specifically lists three. Like Paul, we are to do things with a purpose. What is God’s purpose in your life today? List several things you know God wants you to “do” and “be” today.
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
What spiritual gifts do you have? List below.
Using your spiritual gifts, what are some ways in which you can bless others today?
Thoughts
Life is like a relay. We pass along what was given to us. All of us have something to impart to others. We can impart wisdom, skills, talents, resources, and a host of other things. God has given to us so that we can give to others. He blesses us so that we can be a blessing. In Romans 1:11 the apostle Paul says one of the main reasons why he wanted to come to Rome was to “impart a spiritual gift.” As a man of faith, his intention was to bestow upon others the gift of the Spirit as he had received. It wasn’t as if Paul manipulated the Holy Spirit to do what he wanted, but rather, he allowed the Holy Spirit to empower him to be of service to others. He passed the “baton” to the next generation of believers. God has called you to impart spiritual blessing to others. God has put something in your hands for a purpose, to pass it along. I want to challenge you today, like the apostle Paul, to live with the purpose of being a blessing to others. Take what God has given to you and give it to your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your co-workers. Relay spiritual blessing to those who need your guidance and grace.
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