DEVOTIONAL
The apostle Paul, apart from the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, is considered to be the greatest missionary that has ever walked upon the face of this earth. After his miraculous conversion on the Damascus Road, conviction was aroused in his heart by the Holy Spirit and it began to tear through him like a violent storm. He felt the sharp two edged sword of the words of Christ piercing his very soul saying, “Paul, Paul, why do you persecute me?” It was as if he heard the blood of those whom he had killed crying out against him from the ground, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” So Paul, possessed with inner strength by the Holy Spirit, clothed with humility, threw himself before The Lord Jesus Christ, and pleaded for His mercy. At that very moment clemency was granted to him and Jesus Christ became his personal Savior. Jesus met him with open arms and the indictment for his sins was if they had never occurred. It was for this very purpose the Lord raised up Paul, and for this purpose his life would bring much glory to God.
Therefore the Apostle set his mind to know nothing, but Christ and Him crucified. Although he would make his mark upon human history with the greatest missionary journeys ever recorded by man, he sought nothing more than to preach Christ to every nation, every tribe, and to all peoples. So as his third missionary journey is coming to a close he came to the city of Corinth. It was here that he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to write a letter to the church in Rome. So when Paul began to speak, his scribe Tertius began to write. The apostle, unknowing at this time the effect this letter would have upon church history, began to speak about some of the deepest mysteries concerning Jesus Christ and the truth about the sinfulness of all humanity. So the Apostle, bound by the call of God upon his life, cried allowed with love, “For my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
Oh, may the love that filled the apostle Paul to take the gospel to all peoples, to all tribes, and to all races, fill our hearts as well. May we see the Crucified Savior hanging on the cross bearing our own sins crying out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Come now Christian rise up to the occasion, Christ has called you!!! Yes, it is true, the Creator of the universe has called you!!! Seize the moment, for He has made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron against the whole land. Some will fight against you, some will mock you, but some will fall at the feet of Christ, crying, “Lord, forgive me, for I am the chief of sinners,” and you will have your part in plucking souls from the fires of hell. Go, run without delay; there is no time to hesitate, for hell is waging war against our Master and He has given us a sword to fight with. Remember my brothers and sisters, victory is yours and death has been swallowed up, for the scriptures promise, “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment shall be condemned. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.”
“So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
Romans 1:15 NASBS