Romans 1

I deeply apologize for the lateness of this month’s postings.  The theme for March is the Letters of Paul and we start with the Epistle to Romans.

Now this is one of the most hotly debated book as it contains many deep theological truths.  And we should take the time to read, meditate, pray and ask the preachers if we have areas we do not understand.  But as always, because this is the Word of God, we can learn many things that we can apply immediately to our lives each day.

Just like in today’s passage…

Bible Passage:  Romans 1

Being a part of God’s household is one of the most blessed things.  Although sometimes we grumble, complain and get crossed with our fellow members – very much like in our own family – at the end of the day, we are all children of God in one family.

Paul understood this very well. He said…

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—  that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

~ Romans 1:11-12

Paul very much wanted to visit the church in Rome.  Even though he has never met them, he felt that he had this calling to go over there to teach them and to see how they were doing.  He wanted to be with them.  There were so many things he wanted to do with them.  But he also wanted to receive from them!

Read the verses again and see…. even though Paul had set up many churches and wrote many epistles – he still wanted to be encouraged by the newer Christians in Rome!

Just consider how awesome was his attitude.

At times we also need the encouragement of other Christians.

But Paul showed us that in order to be encouraged by others, he was willing to spend time with people, to develop relationships with people and the end result was that he was “encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me”.

These kind of relationships do not happen by attending church services alone.

We need to take steps to genuinely get to know one another.

We need to make an effort to truly discover the faith and spiritual gifts that others have.

In this passage, we can learn from Paul that if we want to grow and be encouraged in our faith, we must seek out others.

As we gain encouragement, we give encouragement.

That is what life in the house of God should be like.  Think about this.