Romans 1:8, NKJV
I love that Paul recorded his prayers for the believers on paper, because that means that under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Paul was also praying for me, for us, today! Every time I read one of Paul's prayers for the church I try to hear him praying those words over me. And since all of our prayers are stored up in vials in heaven, and are brought out from time to time and poured over the altar there, it is just possible that whenever I read it here on earth, it is being heard in heaven again, on my behalf.
It's just a thought.
And Paul's prayer here begins with thanksgiving--a good way to start--over the faith of the Roman believers.
The Roman church was not started by an apostle on a missionary journey. Paul hadn't gotten that far; Peter was still itinerating in Asia Minor and Greece. The Roman church was apparently pioneered by believers possibly present at Pentecost in Acts Chapter Two who carried the gospel with them back to Rome. Paul had lots of friends there--Priscilla and Aquila not the least among them--and kinsmen as well. But he himself longed to go to Rome for ministry.
I wonder, if Paul was praying for me, what would he have to say about my faith? If Paul was praying for my congregation, or the church as a whole in their community, what would he be able to say about our faith?
2000 years ago, Christianity was a novelty, a growing phenomenon taking the world by storm. And Rome was the greatest city on earth, the capital of the world. Faith in that city, in that culture, was something indeed to talk about!
Such a testimony should be an inspiration to us, an encouragement, a standard. How can we impact the world around us? How can we affect our community, locally, nationally, and globally? Can we touch the world in such a way that our faith is spoken of throughout the world?
I don't know--but I at least want to try!
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