Footsteps #230

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” NLT (Rom.1:12)

Notice the humility Paul demonstrates in Rom.1:12. Listen to the great apostle! Listen to the man directly called by God on the road to Damascus! Listen to the man greatly used of God! Listen to one of the most influential voices in the history of civilisation! Yet he was not above learning from anyone. Spiritual pride is about the worst of all illnesses. It is no accident that Jesus begins the Beatitudes with, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.5:3.) He knew that it is only the humble who can hear His voice. 

We need to see the church not in terms of greater and lesser members but as a mutual-enhancement society in which every person is a servant and teacher to others. That appears to have been Paul’s ideal in this verse. He not only gave blessings but he was open to receiving them from those he served.  

Notice the 3 “I am’s” in vs14-16

“For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. ¹⁵ So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” NLT

He is obligated, eager, and not ashamed. Part of the secret of the success of Paul’s ministry was that he fully believed that he was under a moral obligation to preach the gospel message. For him, that obligation was not an option but debt to the Christ who had given him His life that he might have life everlasting. This was not a dreary duty – he was eager so that others might understand the truth that had so blessed his own personal life. When it came to Jesus, Paul was a difficult man to shut up. His eagerness kept him active. 

With vs14-15 we are beginning to touch upon the heart of his theme in Romans. Firstly, that his message was for Jews, Gentiles, the intelligent and the educated, and those who lacked education. As we shall soon see, Paul’s theme in Romans is essentially that God’s grace and mercy are for everyone. Paul will expound on that idea in v16. 

The reason for Paul’s eagerness to preach is that he realises that the good news is better than anyone can even imagine. Unable to sit still, he is impelled to tell others about Jesus.