Written by: David Morgan
Romans 15 v 9-13
And he also did this so that those who are not Jews could give glory to God for
the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:
" So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name."
The Scripture also says,
" Be happy, you who are not Jews, together with his people."
Again the Scripture says,
" All you nations, praise the Lord.
All you people, praise him."
And Isaiah says,
" The new king will come from the family of Jesse
will stand as a banner for all peoples;
the nations will come together around him and the place where he lives will be
filled with glory."
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while
you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Notes
If you try to keep up with current affairs in the world it is not long before
you realise that there are many different opinions on important subjects.
Often our views are influenced by our culture, the values that we have been
brought up with in our homes or the way in which the media communicate events.
Paul, in writing to the early church in Rome, was highlighting that many of the differences we find today existed in the world then. Not least the way in which the Jewish people and the Gentiles viewed each other. Although these differences had existed for years, things could change.
At Easter they did, and that is why it's a time of celebration in the Christian calendar. Jesus not only died but also rose again, and through God's love so clearly demonstrated in this way, a bridge was built for people of different backgrounds to find a common faith in Christ. It was not their background that would save them but their willingness to trust Christ and know forgiveness in their own lives. As a result the Gentiles could have equal right to rejoice like the Jewish people.
As v 13 says, the hope that is present in someone who believes is centred upon God and the outworking is clear for everyone to see. The hallmarks are that in a changing world we will know that real sense of "joy and peace". This is not historical but a daily experience as "you trust in him".
May what Paul spoke about many years ago be part of your life each day. Although living in a changing world, may each one of us have a lasting faith in "the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me" (Galatians 2 v 20).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for what I have learnt today. Knowing that everyone
is special makes such a difference in a world that often seems divided. May
I experience your forgiveness and also live each day with the joy and peace
you promise as I trust in you. Amen
Romans 15 v 14-16
My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that
you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.
But I have written to you very openly about some things I wanted you to remember.
I did this because God gave me this special gift: to be a minister of Christ
Jesus to those who are not Jews. I served God by teaching his Good News,
so that the non-Jewish people could be an offering that God would accept
- an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
Notes
Sometimes it is the hardest thing to share important matters with those people
you really love. If you are like me, you are scared they may take it the
wrong way. As a result your good intentions may not bring you closer together
but rather drive a wedge between you.
Here in these verses we are given a little insight into the qualities that made Paul such a great Christian leader. He clearly wanted to see these young Christians grow in their faith. To do this, we see that he first of all spoke well of them, recognising that they had many excellent qualities. For instance, they were "full of goodness" and they were able to "teach each other".
But the apostle Paul had written in this letter a number of things to them as God's special messenger. It was like God giving him a special ability to communicate important principles by which they could live their lives, both as individuals and also as a church.
We might ask what was the purpose of this? How thankful we should be that we are left in no doubt whatsoever. It was so that they would become, through their lifestyle, "an offering that God would accept".
In our lives today, if we are speaking to other Christians we need to follow Paul's example. To see the good points in other people is so important, for often if we are not careful all we see are their faults. Also, we need to say things in a loving way so that they will be receptive and see the wisdom of our words.
In the same way, if we are on the receiving end may we have the grace to accept what is being said so that we may also be more like Jesus.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you so much for those who have had a positive input into
my life. Thank you that they have encouraged me in my Christian life to grow
step by step. May my one desire be not only to know about Jesus but also
to be more like him. Amen
Romans 15 v 17-21
So I am proud of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. I will not talk
about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading those who
are not Jews to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said
and done, because of the power of miracles and the great things they saw,
and because of the power of the Holy Spirit. I preached the Good News from
Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, and so I have finished that part
of my work. I always want to preach the Good News in places where people
have never heard of Christ, because I do not want to build on the work someone
else has already started. But it is written in the Scriptures:
" Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard about
him will understand."
Notes
There are some people who like to do nothing else except speak about themselves.
I'm sure you have met the kind of person who wants you to know how well they
did in their exams, not to mention the fact that they came first in the sports
race! At times we wish they would just stop blowing their own trumpet!
In contrast, Paul in this passage only wants people to know what God has been able to achieve through him during the course of his ministry. Perhaps that is why he so often describes himself as a "servant" - a man who was always trying to serve the saviour he loved so much.
Paul had come to know Jesus on the road to Damascus in a very dramatic way. His conversion experience had changed him from being someone who was totally against the Christian faith to being a full-time communicator of this important message.
Nowhere do we read of Paul going round shouting out, "See how good I am." Rather, all he wanted to do was reflect Christ to others - in other words, putting Christ first and himself last.
As a preacher all he wanted to do was share Christ, not where other people were busy doing it but reaching out to other individuals who needed to hear and trust the saviour.
What a great set of lessons to apply to our lives. If we know Christ, we should want to share him so that others may come to appreciate him like us. Also, we will look for opportunities perhaps where no other Christian has an input.
Why not stop today and remember those who are sharing the Christian faith in other countries, often in difficult circumstances.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to thank you for those who are serving you in often difficult
circumstances. Please would you help them today to be a bright light in what
so often is a very dark world. May people see Jesus in them and learn to
trust him also. Amen
Romans 15 v 22-29
This is the reason I was stopped many times from coming to you. Now I have
finished my work here. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you,
I hope to visit you on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for
a while, I hope you can help me on my trip. Now I am going to Jerusalem to
help God's people. The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy
to give their money to help the poor among God's people at Jerusalem. They
were happy to do this, and really they owe it to them. These who are not
Jews have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, so they should use their
material possessions to help the Jews. After I am sure the poor in Jerusalem
get the money that has been given for them, I will leave for Spain and visit
you on the way. I know that when I come to you I will bring Christ's full
blessing.
Notes
The other week I was travelling from my home in Cornwall to preach at a church
in London. Due to engineering work on the track I was told that my train
would be delayed. Perhaps you can identify with me if you have experienced
a delay because the bus was late or the traffic was heavy.
Paul had been so busy in sharing the Christian message, but now he was on his travels once again and would visit the people he was writing to on his way to Spain. How long he was going to stay we do not know, but the delay in coming had not taken away his enthusiasm to see them.
We live in a world today that communicates in many different ways - for instance, by email, text, phone or letter. Yet there is nothing like meeting up with people and talking with them face to face. This is what Paul wanted to do to break his journey - to see how they were, and to encourage them as they shared their faith in a large city.
Making time for people has never been easy, yet we know ourselves how important this is - not only to meet up on a social level, but also to meet with those who have helped us at different stages of our lives. Looking back I can remember those who helped me discover Jesus and grow as a Christian: my Sunday school teacher, youth leader and pastor. Never forget these people, and try to keep in contact with them.
Spend a few moments today thanking God for various people who have helped you, both with difficult situations you have had to face and also in finding Christ. Even better: follow Paul's example and try to make time to see them!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to thank you today for those who have been there when I
have needed them, who were there when there were difficult situations to
face, and who helped me discover you as my Saviour and more of what it means
to be a Christian. Amen
Romans 15 v 30-33
Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for
me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives
us. Pray that I will be saved from the non-believers in Judea and that this
help I bring to Jerusalem will please God's people there. Then, if God wants
me to, I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will have a time
of rest. The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.
Notes
One of the great thrills of being a Christian is to understand more about what
God is doing in different parts of the world. Throughout the centuries individual
Christians have felt called by God to travel miles to another country to
show the love of Christ. This is often through practical acts such as being
a doctor or a nurse, a teacher or a farmer. Others have seen how important
it is to teach the Bible and explain what difference being a Christian can
make. All these people are called missionaries.
Paul was a missionary motivated by a Christ-like compassion for those in need. He was often seen meeting the practical needs of churches as well as standing up to preach, often in situations where he faced opposition.
One of the key questions that we need to ask today is: "How can we support missionaries, either those who work in our country or overseas?"
We may not feel we can do a great deal if we do not have much money to give. Yet in our reading, Paul tells us one thing that we are all able to do: "Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me".
If you have an interest in one part of the world, find out what God is doing there. You can do this by receiving a magazine from a missionary organisation or by going to their website. This will give you some information and prayer pointers that you can include in your prayers.
Like Paul, many missionaries appreciate those who spend time praying for them so that God may help and equip them for the challenges they face each day. Why not be part of mission and start praying for someone today.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank you for those people who have given up so much to serve
you in different parts of the world, often living a long way from other members
of their family. Please help them today to serve you well and give them the
wisdom they need. Amen
Romans 16 v 1-8
I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a helper in the church in Cenchrea.
I ask you to accept her in the Lord in the way God's people should. Help
her with anything she needs, because she has helped me and many other people
also.
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, who work together with me in Christ
Jesus and who risked their own lives to save my life. I am thankful to them,
and all the non-Jewish churches are thankful as well. Also, greet for me the
church that meets at their house.
Greetings to my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first person in the country
of Asia to follow Christ. Greetings to Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Greetings to Andronicus and Junias, my relatives, who were in prison with me.
They are very important apostles. They were believers in Christ before I was.
Greetings to Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
Notes
Last October my wife and myself moved home, an experience we will not forget
with all the problems and stress that were involved! Nevertheless, we are
thrilled to be living in Cornwall, and for the past few months we have been
decorating and also getting to know the area.
One of our top priorities was to find a good church that would become our new "spiritual" home. How grateful we are that the members at Emmanuel Baptist were waiting for us. They have not only given us a warm welcome but have accepted us as we are into the fellowship.
Paul wrote to the church asking them to welcome Phoebe who was coming from Cenchrea, which was a seaport. He encouraged them to accept her as she was in a way that God's people should. Furthermore, he asked them to be generous, helping her in practical ways with everything she needed. Clearly she had worked very hard for the Lord and the apostle Paul wanted her to find a good church to settle into.
If we are not careful, our churches today can become very impersonal. In some fellowships it is possible to come and go without anyone giving you a warm welcome. Sometimes we need to ask the question: "How would I like to be treated?" When we have considered this, our reaction to others is so often different.
Churches are made up of a real mix of people, from the children to the older people, and from those who come having a Christian background to those where everything is new. We need not only to give them a warm welcome but also to accept them. Only then can we help them to discover Jesus and grow in the Christian life.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you that your church is made up of lots of different people.
Help me to give a welcome to those who start coming and make them feel at
home. May I be willing to spend time with them and also help in any practical
ways. Amen
Romans 16 v 9-16
Greetings to Urbanus, a worker together with me for Christ. And greetings to
my dear friend Stachys. Greetings to Apelles, who was tested and proved that
he truly loves Christ. Greetings to all those who are in the family of Aristobulus.
Greetings to Herodion, my fellow citizen. Greetings to all those in the family
of Narcissus who belong to the Lord. Greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa,
women who work very hard for the Lord. Greetings to my dear friend Persis,
who also has worked very hard for the Lord. Greetings to Rufus, who is a
special person in the Lord, and to his mother, who has been like a mother
to me also. Greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and
all the brothers who are with them. Greetings to Philologus and Julia, Nereus
and his sister, and Olympas, and to all God's people with them. Greet each
other with a holy kiss. All of Christ's churches send greetings to you.
Notes
Just under two years ago I accepted the challenge to climb the Three Peaks:
Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon, all within 24 hours - a real challenge for
someone who is 51 years old! The key person behind the organisation was my
son-in-law, Peter. Although he was the leader, many others helped both in
the preparation and also the challenge itself; teamwork was the key to success.
Paul sent his greetings to a number who had meant a great deal to him and had played an important part in the work of sharing the gospel in often challenging and difficult circumstances. Read the list of those who gave time to be effective witnesses for the Lord in the area in which they lived. Each one had personally believed in Christ and was committed to speaking out, sometimes at cost to themselves.
The apostle Paul wished to acknowledge their individual contribution to the Christian faith and so he sent his personal greetings. Just imagine them reading through this letter and seeing their name mentioned!
The group of people who meet together in a church are often described as a "body". Although someone has to be the head, everyone else works like the parts of the body so that things can run smoothly. God has given to each one of us different abilities and we should try to use them to the full. Unlike people in secular work who aim for promotion, we should be content to do whatever we can, working together for one common objective: making Christ known.
Paul recognised those who had played a vital part in this ministry. Are there those today that you need to convey your appreciation to for all they do to advance Jesus in our society?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you so much that the church is made up of different people
using abilities to serve you. May I be willing to play my part and so be
a member of the team reaching out with the love of Jesus. Amen
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes