November 10, 2021 - Romans 15:14-21

Last night we had the opportunity to listen to a man that had spent his entire adult life proclaiming the gospel message to people he did not know. He had obeyed the calling of God and went to far away places to present Christ in nations difficult to enter. It was thrilling to hear and see how God is working in our world today!

Paul’s calling and heartbeat was to take the gospel message to the Gentiles. He had been given the command early in his spiritual journey (Acts 9:15) and had faithfully sought to accomplish this directive wherever he traveled. With boldness and wisdom from his years of experienced ministry, here he explains his strong exhortation to them. The Gentiles had been a people without hope (Ephesians 2:12) but now those who had believed had hope, joy, peace, and power (v.13).

By God’s grace, Paul had ministered to the people of the world so that some would be “acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (v.16). The reason Paul so confidently spoke was because of His dependance upon the Holy Spirit and the work of God that was manifested through him. He states that he would not dare to even speak of all that he had accomplished without acknowledging God’s presence and power emanating through him.

There are times when the work of ministry is exhausting and numbing as difficulties and hurts pile on one another. There are also times when the power and presence of the Lord is so evident that blessings abound. Paul had experienced both and now he reminds the believers to continually proclaim God’s word. His aim was to preach the gospel anywhere, anytime the Lord gave him opportunity. May we contemplate what Jesus has done for us and the commands He has called us to fulfill. We may not be called to be a preacher, pastor, evangelist or missionary but we are called to live holy lives and speak of the Savior who loves us with an everlasting love. We are taught that as spirit filled believers, we will not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ but simply live and speak of Him who gave Himself for us.

Take a moment today to be thankful for what Christ has accomplished in your life since you received Him as your Savior. Review the moments when He made Himself known to you and you knew that He was there by your side. Be confident of your salvation and as Paul stated in the beginning of this book, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…” (1:16-17).