Romans 15:28: When Therefore I Have Completed This...

Romans 15:28

When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. (ESV)

The Apostle Paul is putting together his itinerary for his trip to Jerusalem and where he will be going afterward. He is delivering this financial gift to the saints in Jerusalem that he has collected from the many churches where he has preached the Gospel. He writes to the church at Rome of his intentions to come and see them on his way to Rome.

It is interesting to note that Paul had not yet been to Rome. It was his longtime desire to visit them, but he wrote this letter to them before ever having met them. The church was started by folks who came and preached the Gospel after they received it on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Paul's clear intent is to go to Rome, on his way to Spain. I am sure there was great excitement in his heart as he made these plans.

We do well to make plans. However, we recognize that God is sovereign over everything, including our best made plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." If you look back over the course of your life you can see the many times you have made plans, perhaps very honorable plans, and God over-ruled your plans and directed your steps differently.

Scripture does not record the Apostle Paul ever making it to Spain. He did make it to Rome, however. He arrived in chains. His plans were never realized in the way that he had planned. We have plans. God has better plans. His ways are not our ways. As Paul said in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

What are your plans? Are they honorable? Submit them to the Lord. Recognize that he knows best. If he directs your plans differently, give him praise and follow him. He will work things together for good.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their

Every Day Devotion

Search This Blog