In The Word
Read: Romans 15:14-33
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.21 Rather, as it is written:
“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”
22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Paul gave an evaluation on how the church in Rome was doing. He stated they were filled with goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. These are three characteristics that are valuable enough for us as Christians to desire to have in our lives as well. First, let’s look at goodness, which is also a fruit of the Spirit. Goodness means having an upright, honorable heart and life. This is someone who walks in the integrity of the Lord. It’s one thing to have an honorable life on the outside, but to have the heart to reflect it on the inside is the difference-maker in God’s Kingdom.
Next, let’s look at being filled with all knowledge, which means for one to have an understanding or general intelligence of things a follower of Jesus Christ should or should not be a part of. This is someone who knows and understands God’s Word in such a way that they apply it to every aspect of their life. Jesus spoke directly to walking in this manner. He said anyone who hears His words and doesn’t apply them has built the foundation of their life upon sand, but those who hear and apply His words have built the foundation of their life upon a solid rock.
Finally, let’s look at admonishing one another. This is someone who is able to warn someone if their life isn’t lining up with God’s truth. To apply this, you need to be walking in the first two characteristics Paul listed. We should all desire to have these three characteristics in our lives. Pray that the Lord would reveal to you if you have strayed in any of these areas, and, if you have, then repent and get back on His Ancient Path.