Daily Scripture Reading Romans 15:14-33

Over the past several centuries, European and American churches have sent thousands of missionaries all over the globe. The Christians who stayed at home as senders and supporters often had the mindset that the ones who went were doing the ministry while those who stayed home were not.

We will see in today’s passage that Paul had a different mentality about those who send and support missionaries. Senders can actually labor beside missionaries even when they are thousands of miles away.

In the opening verses of chapter 15, Paul wrote that the Old Testament was written for our instruction. Then he quoted four passages from the OT to prove that Christ came so that Gentiles would glorify God, not just to confirm the promises given to the Jewish fathers,

Rom. 15:14 ¶ But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge and being able also to admonish one another.

Look at the phrase “filled with all knowledge”. Modern Christianity focuses on emotions at the expense of knowledge, but Paul did not praise the Romans because they were filled with emotion. Instead, he complimented them for their knowledge.

Notice the phrase “admonish one another”. The purpose of church is to sharpen one another and “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). The purpose of church is not to experience an emotional high.

Rom. 15:15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me by God

Rom. 15:16 for me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 15:17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

Rom. 15:18 For I will not be bold to speak of anything except what Christ has brought about through me, leading to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

Rom. 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Illyricum is near the top left of this map. Jerusalem is in the lower right. Up to the time Paul wrote this letter, his area of ministry was between those two areas.

Rom. 15:20 And in this way I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;

Rom. 15:21 but as it is written,

“THEY WHO HAD NO DECLARATION OF HIM SHALL SEE,

AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.”

This is a quotation from Isaiah 52:15. Isaiah was writing about the Servant of Yahweh who would be marred more than any man and then be mentioned to many nations. Christ was the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Paul’s ambition was to preach the gospel in many Gentile nations so as to inform the Gentiles about Jesus, the Servant of Yahweh.

Rom. 15:22 ¶ For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;

Rom. 15:23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you

Rom. 15:24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while.

Rom. 15:25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints.

Rom. 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

Paul’s intent after writing his letter to Rome was to deliver a gift from Macedonia and Achaia to the saints in Jerusalem. Macedonia and Achaia were the regions which contained the cities of Thessalonica and Corinth.

Rom. 15:27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

Rom. 15:28 Therefore, when I have completed this and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

After Paul delivered the gift to Jerusalem, he intended to visit Rome, which is on the left of this map, and then go to Spain which is off the left side of this map.

Rom. 15:29 And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Rom. 15:30 ¶ Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

Think about the phrase “strive together with me in your prayers”. Paul was the one who was traveling the world doing ministry. It was easy for the Christians in Rome to think all they were doing was supporting Paul. However, Paul did not look at it that way. He wrote that through prayer, the Christians in Rome could actually participate in Paul’s ministry and serve beside him without leaving home.

Today, we have a similar misconception. Christians often have the mindset that missionaries in foreign lands are doing ministry while those at home who send and support them are not actively participating in the ministry. However, through prayer, we can labor together with and beside those who are thousands of miles away. When we pray for missionaries, we are not limited to merely asking God to help them. We are able to participate and labor together with those who go.

Rom. 15:31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;

Rom. 15:32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find rest in your company.

Rom. 15:33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul asked the Christians in Rome to use prayer to strive beside him as he traveled and proclaimed the gospel.

What opportunities do you have to use prayer to labor beside those who are doing ministry in a different geographical area?

How can people pray so that they are working alongside a person who is doing ministry in a far away land?

How should this concept of striving with someone via prayer change how you pray for missionaries?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”