outside in

Good morning friends,
Today we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor and the war that followed. We're grateful for the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform throughout our history, and we grieve for all the lives lost in conflict. We pray for peace, both in our cities and around the world.

Paul's letter to the Romans is different from his other letters in that he hadn't founded or previously visited the church in Rome. As he explains here, his mission throughout his ministry had been bringing Christ to places that didn't know him yet. Now he feels he has completed the first phase of the evangelization of the area and he wants to visit new places including Spain. As part of this plan he wants to come to Rome. Since he is writing to a community that is already established he recognizes that he is not their teacher or leader. He still feels he has something to offer them in terms of spiritual advise, because of God's grace to him. He relates his whole intent with them to the growth of harmony between Jews and gentiles in the church of Christ.

This passage encourages me to remember the constant need to share the good news with those who don't know Jesus. In our setting there aren't many people who have never heard of Jesus, but there are many who don't really know who he was or the good news of love he represents. Let's always be on the lookout for chances to share that joyful word with others.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 15:14-24

14I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16to 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.


17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. 18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. 20Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.”


22This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.