Taking a walk Through Romans
“1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God–“ Romans 1:1
Just thought I would take a walk through Romans and see what God Would show me. I was tempted to skip ahead to chapters 8, 9 and 10 and begin there. But the Lord pressed upon my heart an old phrase. “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.” If God so chooses to place the book of Romans on my heart, then it is I who must start at the beginning and allow Him to teach me his ways. So join me on a walk though Romans and let’s see where the Lords leads us.
The very first verse starts out, like many other letters that Paul wrote, stating who he is. This is not Paul boasting, but is actually him stating by which authority he writes to the church. This is Paul actually being humble to the will of God. Stated so completely by the words, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.”
Later in the book we will read about Paul describing those that are called by Christ to serve Him in his earthly work. This is made reference to when Paul mentions that he was “Called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-“ Paul is referring to the callings of God and to predestination. Again a topic best suited for Chapter 8. So please bear with me.
What I do want to call to attention is the plain and very blunt statement that Paul, one of the founders of the church, the man who through divine inspiration wrote the majority of what we now call the new testament. This visionary of the church and founder of many of the doctrines, practices and beliefs of the modern church was nothing more that a servant of Christ. Just like you and I. He was called of God for a purpose no grander than the one God has called us for.
He was to take the Gospel to those that needed to hear “the good news” of Christ Jesus and the salvation obtained through the Cross. He was just a man on a mission from his Lord. The same Lord, and in many cases the same mission we have been set upon. The only major difference between Paul and you or I is that he took it more serious and was far more dedicated that we are. He reached out to a world in need of light and showed them the Son. We are the servants of Christ Jesus. We have been called to be the stewards of his Word. The givers of the Good News. The bearers of the Gospel. The redeemed lives lived as an example of what the Love of God can do.
We are those people. We have been set apart for a purpose and a plan that was written, orchestrated and governed by none other than God himself, creator of all tings great and small. We are special. We are all Paul’s in our own respect. We have been given a great and glorious task. To carry the Word of God and the Love that dwells in our souls out into a world that cries out for the love and security a personal relationship with the Creator through Christ can bring. I as you today, right now, this moment in your life to look at you life and see it for what it is.
Know the precious gift you have been given and feel the weight of the calling you have on your life. Open your heart to the voice of God and allow him to tell you where to go. You are special. You are a tool in the hand of the master builder. You are called By HIS name and for HIS purpose. Go and do the will of God.
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