The Normal Christian Life: A Journey Through Romans
Saturday, January 21, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for calling me to be Your child. I want to serve You every day of my life. I do this not only because it is my duty, but also because I love You. Help me to reach as many people as I can, according to Your grace and mercy, so that heaven will be populated and hell will be plundered! I ask this in the name of Jesus. . . 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
Paul’s passion to both evangelize and disciple others was out of a keen sense of duty to God. He says in Romans 1:14-15, “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. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God’s Good News.” Paul wanted to reach as many people as he could for Jesus Christ. If we think about it, when we get to heaven we will not be able to bring our houses, our cars, our toys, or any material possession we have. We will, however, bring with us those whom we’ve led to the Lord over the years. People are the only thing we can bring with us when we get to heaven – for they are the “fruit” Jesus was talking about. For many people evangelism is difficult. They think that we have to stand on the street corner and shout at the top of our lungs in order to be an evangelist, but being an evangelist is simply telling others our testimony of what God has done in us through Jesus Christ. It may be speaking publicly, but it also may be a conversation with a friend or colleague. God has called us to be His evangelists so that others can hear His Good News.
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
When Paul says in Romans 1:15 that he is eager to come to Rome, to preach the “Good News,” most original transcripts say “Gospel.” The “Good News” and the “Gospel” are essentially the same thing. The good news is the fact that Jesus Christ has come to save us from sin, when we put our faith in trust in Him. Have you done this in your life? If not, pray the prayer below.
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
God has called all of us to turn from our sin and trust Jesus as our Savior. If you would like to do this today – pray this prayer. Dear God, I’ve sinned against You, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I turn away from my sins and I am now going to live my life for You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. . . Amen. (Congratulations! You’ve now become a Christian. . . please tell someone you know about the prayer you just prayed!)
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
List 2-3 people or families in which God has put on your hearts to invite to church. Take time today to pray for them and how you might be a witness for Jesus to them.
When was the last time you verbally shared your faith in Jesus with a non-Christian? What prevents you from doing so more often?
Thoughts
Paul was moved by the Spirit of God to reach everyone he could. I hope this is true of all of us! On New Year’s Day, Pastor Chris challenged us to all reach two or three people with the Good News of Jesus this year. Only a couple of weeks have passed since then, but have you been writing a list of two or three people or families with whom you can share the Good News, or invite to be a part of New Life in 2006? One of my prayers for New Life is that God will help us, not only to live our faith before others, to be a people of passionate prayer, to commit ourselves to regular attendance at church, but to boldly proclaim His glorious Gospel everywhere we go! The Bible says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” How can the world hear unless we speak? God is calling us to proclaim his Good News (the Gospel) so that the words of Jesus will bring about a fruitful harvest. Everyone wins when people pray, encourage one another, and tell others His Good News!
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