Friday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Romans 1:13-15
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 spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
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 spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
1:13 harvest. Paul’s ministry is like bringing ripened crops as a gift to God. Paul neither “planted†nor “watered†the church at Rome (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6), but its increased maturity and obedience would be a harvest nonetheless.
1:14 Paul was under obligation imposed by Jesus Christ, who ordained Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles. Greeks refers to those who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture in the Greco-Roman world. Barbarians designates those outside of Greek culture.
1:15 Why would Paul preach the gospel to people who were already Christians? For Paul “the gospel†is not just a call to initial saving faith but also a call to continue in a daily walk of faith (6:4; 8:4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:6).
1:14 Paul was under obligation imposed by Jesus Christ, who ordained Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles. Greeks refers to those who spoke Greek and adopted Greek culture in the Greco-Roman world. Barbarians designates those outside of Greek culture.
1:15 Why would Paul preach the gospel to people who were already Christians? For Paul “the gospel†is not just a call to initial saving faith but also a call to continue in a daily walk of faith (6:4; 8:4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:6).
Study Questions:
- Each of us is placed into a community to pray and sacrifice on its behalf. God placed you into that family, into that community, so that you could ask for blessing and mercy there. That was His intention in putting you where He did. Do you see those in your circle that way? Are you praying for them to that end?
- Paul says in Romans 1 that he has an "obligation" to share the Gospel with the world. Some other translations say that he feels he owes them a debt. Paul? A debtor? What did Paul owe them? He'd never met most of them, nor would he. Imagine this: You are dead broke and hopeless and somebody generously pours out riches upon you, more than you could ever use in your lifetime. Then they say to you, “My only requirement is that you share this with others whom you encounter who are similarly destitute.†At that point you owe your wealth to others; not because of them, but your to honor the wishes of your benefactor. This is the kind of debt Paul is talking about, and we should feel the same way. For no reason at all, God has chosen to bless you with the saving grace of the Gospel. You aren't more worthy than anyone else. You don't have more potential. It was pure GRACE. David Platt said, "Every saved person this side of heaven owes the Gospel to every unsaved person this side of hell." Do you feel this same obligation to share Jesus with a world around you that needs His saving grace? If not, how do you move your heart in that direction? Who do you need to share with?
Pray:
- That you would steward your circles well.
- That you would feel an obligation to share God's grace.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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