 The entire Roman letter written by Paul has inspired many throughout the ages. I am currently re-reading the letter and studying each verse. Here's the verse I prayed through today:
"I am eager to preach the Gospel also to you who are at Rome." -- Romans 1:15 At first glance, I wanted to skip this verse. However, when looking at the context of the verse, I was convicted of something: How eager am I about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? It's important to remember Paul wrote the Roman letter to believers in Rome who are called to be saints. Yet, Paul is 'eager to preach the Gospel to them'? How can this be? They are already saved, already believe in the Gospel, shouldn't he move from the Gospel to 'deeper' issues, issues more applicable to the need of their day? 1. The Prophets: The Gospel is more than a 'one time believe' and move on to other issues. Paul proclaimed the prophets wrote about the Gospel throughout the Old Testament (Romans 1:2). Once Christ resurrected, the hope of the Gospel didn't end that day. The hope was fulfilled in Christ. Our redemption is found in the Gospel, our rest is found in the Gospel, our hope is still found in the Gospel, our identity is found in the Gospel, our strength is found in the Gospel. The hope of the Gospel that consumed Moses, David, Isaiah, and Paul, should consume us! 2. The Next Verse: Paul doesn't stop at verse 15, here's verse 16: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Paul was eager to tell the saints in Rome of the Gospel, how the Prophets spoke of the Gospel, how Christ fulfilled the Gospel. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel because he understood the power of the Gospel: It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. So how does this verse 'speak to me'? Its simple: I need the Gospel today more than I did when I first believed. I need to believe it more today. My prayer is that I will believe the Gospel more today than I first believed and I will be eager to preach the Good News of Jesus to those who are unbelievers as well as to the saints.
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