Scripture Reading(s)
Romans 1:1-7
1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
1:2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
1:3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
1:4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,
1:6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
1:7 To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflections
Paul was an ambassador of the Gospel. He was known as one of the greatest evangelist of his time and lived to spread the news of the Gospel. He dedicated his life to facing many dangerous situations for the sake of reaching those who were lost and needed saving. Paul is an example to the church and to us of what it means to be hero of the faith. Nothing else in his life mattered and we can see that his dedication serves as an encouragement for those of us who are more prone to back off from talking about Jesus Christ and our faith.
These first seven verses are a Paul’s way of setting the groundwork for why it is that he stands for the gospel. He shows how the gospel message has changed his own life and the deep meaningful conviction it brought at the point of conversion. He shows that life after Christ is different and he was no longer a slave to sin but a servant for God in working to spread the good news to others.
As Christians, one of the main callings in our life is to spread the Gospel. God’s love is for the world and His death on the cross was to save sinners from eternal punishment. Like Paul our love for God must emulated in not being afraid of spreading the news but being bold. Paul relied heavily on God’s strength to see him through his mission and we too can rely on that same strength to give us courage to spread God’s love to others.
Paul did not have a working relationship with the Roman church. Therefore, the greetings in his letter to them has a few interesting items. In the first two verses Paul makes an interesting statement. He says that God had predestined him and even the prophets foretold of his ministry to the gentiles. He does not usually form greetings in this way but when writing to a new church it’s helpful to list your credentials.
However, Paul is not the only one that God has called to a special purpose. We may not all be a Paul or a Barnabas, but we have all been called to the ministry of the Kingdom of God. We have all been given a purpose and destiny. We are not here to waste our lives away. Be encouraged that the creator has a special plan for your life. Seek it out and be part of the Lord’s kingdom calling.