Paul’s Longing

Romans 1:8-15

Chapter 2

"First, I thank my God." One of the first things Paul conveys in almost every letter he wrote is to thank God for the believers. We live in a world full of unthankful people. We even allow ourselves to become influenced by this thankless attitude and forget that God knows of it. This is why He often reminds us in the Bible to give thanks. Giving thanks is an expression of joy and happiness. We thank God for things we receive from Him because we know only God can give us good things. I once read of a man who fractured his spine during a fall and ended up in a wheelchair. At first he cursed God for it, but after he was saved he said, "When I stand before God's throne, I will thank Him for breaking my back. If God would have let me live the way I was living, I would have gone to hell." The things God does will always make us thankful.

Have you ever thanked God for your brothers and sisters and for other believers'? Your former friends probably have abandoned you, but others have taken their place. Paul heard about the believers in Rome because their faith was being spoken about in the whole world. The thoughts that occupied his mind were connected with their faith. His spirit and his thought-life were saturated with one thing: serving God in the gospel of His Son. If you have just been saved, many thoughts of your previous life may still occupy your mind. This is why it's good to think on things that have to do with the Lord Jesus.

Paul longed to go to the believers in Rome. He had never seen them, but he was interested in them. He constantly remembered them in his prayers. They needed encouragement and he could give it to them by "imparting to [them] some spiritual gift."(a) After this he immediately presents an explanation, "That is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."(b) We also need this strengthening of our faith.

(a) Romans 1:11

(b) Romans 1:12

This is why we should seek to come together and share the experiences of our faith with each other. It is a comfort for both, and it doesn't matter where you or the other believers are in spiritual growth, whether newborn or mature. This was true of Paul and the Roman believers. Paul had much experience in the faith, but was still able to receive comfort from the believers in Rome who had fewer experiences. So look up your fellow believers; you need them and they need you.

Paul had often wanted to go to Rome because he wanted to have some fruit among them. He wasn't looking for glory, but was indebted to God because He had called him to this service and responsibility. He could only discharge this debt if he fulfilled his service by preaching the gospel. But didn't these people already know the Lord Jesus? Yes, but the gospel implies more than preaching repentance and faith. The word gospel means good news. It's called "the gospel of God" since the heart of God is expressed in it. God has much more to say to us than "Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus." In fact, it is not until we have repented from our sins that we are capable of discovering all He wants us to know from His heart. It's good for us that Paul wasn't able to go to Rome since he then wrote this letter to the Christians there, and therefore we can now be better acquainted with the gospel he wanted to preach to them.

Now read Romans 1:8-15 again.

Reflection: Thank God for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Mention their names to Him.

Ger de Koning

To purchase a copy or copies of this book for yourself or for the Young People's Bible Study you can place an order under the Full Catalogue Dropdown on this Web Site.