Romans 1:8-15

at my desk in the office
just had birthday lunch
break time

Romans 1:8-15 (ESV)

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

Word Study
without ceasing (v9)--continual, unceasing, unintermitted
intended (v13)--planned, made an effort
under obligation (v14)--fulfilling the debt requirement, called to fulfill something by someone else

Thoughts

1. First (v8)

I love that the thing Paul starts off with what he does. He just got done with his introduction, which sort of summarized the entire book it seems. Now he has done the welcoming and is moving into the meat of what he has to say to these people in the huge metropolitan city. The powerhouse--Rome. Not only that, but the gentiles, God's "unchosen" people.

The first thing Paul wants to do is tell these people how much he is thankful for them.

Before all of the "we're all sinners" stuff. Before the "salvation only through faith in Christ" stuff. Before all of that, Paul wants his readers to know that he cares about them personally.

He is so thankful for these people and their faith.

He showed this first through his prayers. Paul claimed as God as his witness that he is all the time thanking God for these people and praying for them. "Without ceasing" the Scripture says. Whenever he prays, he is praying for them.

Not only is Paul praying for them, but he is also yearning to come see them. He wants them to know that even though he has never met these people, he has a heart for them. He longs to be with them to be encouraged by them and to encourage them himself. He wants this so much that he says it before any of the other HUGE things he has to say (and the stuff is HUGE).

Application Para Mi

A heart for people is the source of helping them. If I don't care about people, then why should I try to teach them anything? Why should I care for their needs? I need a heart for people before I can teach them something. Paul is clear about this. Before he attempted to teach these people and impart the Word of God to the, he longed to show them his heart for them.

Not only that, but I need people as much as they need me. Paul longed to be encouraged by these people. They had something he needed. People have something I need. Encouragement. Chastisement.

I look forward to the next truth starting in verse 16.