Romans 1:13-15

Passage

And I do not desire you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that many times I planned to come to you all – and I was being prevented until now – in order that I should have some fruit also in you just as I should have in the rest of the Gentiles.  I am under an obligation to the Greeks and the barbarians and even to the wise and the foolish.  Thus there is an eagerness according to me to also preach the good news to you all who are in Rome.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Yesterday we focused on the mutual encouragement that will come from a meeting between Paul and the Roman believers.  Today, however, we see that Paul is not only focused upon mutual encouragement.  Paul’s focus is always upon bearing fruit.  Paul is always looking for an opportunity to increase faith in believers and to foster new faith in non-believers.  There is always room to grow, and Paul demonstrates what it is like to be ready for whatever God has in store for those willing to grow.

Are you satisfied with what God has done in your life right now?  How interested are you being ready to take advantage of any opportunity that God might put in your life?  Who might God be asking you to reach and help bear fruit?

Second Thought:

Paul informs the Romans that he is under an obligation to preach.  This is what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus.  Yes, Paul has an incredible capacity.  But he is ready within this capacity.  He understands how God is using him.  Not all Christians have the capacity to minister to as many people in as many places as Paul, but all Christians have the ability to be prepared to minister to whomever God has put into their life for such a purpose.  In fact, to use the words of Paul, it is our obligation to be ready to be used by God.

Do you see the proclamation of the Gospel to the world as your obligation?  If not, who is under such an obligation if not you?  If so, how are you preparing to be ready to act upon that obligation when God should call?

Third Thought:

As we look at Paul’s capacity, Paul says that he is obligated to speak to the wise, the foolish, the Greeks, and to the barbarians.  The word barbarian isn’t a designation of education as much as it is a designation of crudeness.  A “Greek” is someone who lives in a cultured manner, speaks in a pleasant flowing language, and whose society is ordered.  A barbarian is someone whose society is unordered, whose speech is harsh, and whose language might be perhaps uncouth.  What is important to note is that Paul considers the whole spectrum as his target.  Paul has the same approach as God.  It is not the outside that determines a person’s ability to respond to the call of God; it is the willingness of the person’s spirit to be open to God that determines their ability to be in relationship with God.

How good are you at looking into a person’s spirit and not being blinded by their outward appearances?  When have you been surprised by a person who responded to God when from the outside they don’t appear as one who would be interested in a relationship with God?  Whom do you consider your target audience with respect to your capacity?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 1:16-17