July 10 / Romans 15:14-21

Romans 15:14-21

…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… (v. 20) So often I look for Paul’s writing with application to our own times. Sorry, not this time! In our sharing of the Gospel, every one of us (except maybe someone like Bethany Tennent) is building on someone else’s foundation! Thankfully we have thousands, millions even, who have gone before us and shown us the way to speak the Gospel to unbelievers. Still, however, we need to rest in the Holy Spirit – trusting that He will guide us with words to speak when opportunities arise.

…the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (vv. 15b-16) Paul is drawing on his Jewish heritage here, essentially linking himself to the Jewish priests who offer animal sacrifices in the temple for the forgiveness of the sins of the Jewish people. In similar fashion, Paul is seeing himself in the role of a priest, but offering the Gentiles as a “human sacrifice”, praying that this sacrifice will be acceptable to God. I can imagine that this “human sacrifice” of the Gentiles is MUCH more pleasing to God than all the animal sacrifices for thousands of years! I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!