Devotions

Contend Along With Me in Your Prayers

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Jesus taught his disciples to pray a simple prayer in Matthew 6:10 “May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”, and Paul is exhorting believers to continue that prayer. Is this not the will of God? Paul asked them to pray two things in Romans 15:31 “that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”. Aren’t these two requests still the way for us to pray? Wherever we are, whatever our place in the world, we have something to contribute, something more we can do for God’s kingdom. But we don’t work to please the Lord, just as it was with Jesus, God the Father was pleased with him before he started any work of ministry. From the first day, at his baptism, in Matthew 3:17 And behold, there was a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” We don’t work to please the Lord, we work to demonstrate our love for him and for those around us.

Bear the Weaknesses of the Weak

Romans 15:1–13

I Have Fully Proclaimed the Gospel of Christ

Romans 15:14–21 

Contend Along With Me in Your Prayers

Romans 15:22–33
Paul has preached far and wide and is intent on traveling to Jerusalem in Romans 15:25. It may have been several years, possibly two to four, after writing this letter that he actually arrives there. Never the less, he is praying ahead and desiring the Lord’s perfect will as he goes. Much of our Christian life is in the journey and there where times as Paul has just said in Romans 15:22 that he was hindered. Here, Paul asks them to pray, but not just to pray, but to “contend” in

Romans 15:30 Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God,

and Paul is asking for two things that we also might pray for ourselves and for those we know that are ministers of the gospel in

Romans 15:31 “that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”

 

Greet One Another With a Holy Kiss

Romans 16:1–16
Paul offers a long list of personal greetings to men and women that are fellow laborers, fellow servants. To Phoebe in Romans 16:1 “who is also a servant of the church”. To Prisca and Aquila in Romans 16:3-5 “my fellow workers … who risked their own necks … the church in their house”. And as you read this list it is apparent that people had very different situations. Andronicus and Junia in Romans 16:7 “who are well known to the apostles, who were also in Christ before me” and Ampliatus in Romans 16:8 “my dear friend” and in Romans 16:11 “Greet those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord”. So we find individuals, households, friends, and fellow laborers all doing their work for the Lord. All written in the Lambs book of life. All whose works for the Lord follow them as it says in

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them.”

 

The Report of Your Obedience Has Reached To All

Romans 16:17–24
As Paul closes this letter, he reminds them that the Lord will return in

Romans 16:20 And in a short time the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

He encourages them to continue in

Romans 16:19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, and I want you to be wise toward what is good, but innocent toward what is evil.

because there is a good path but he also says “look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations … stay away from them”.

The Hope Reserved for You in Heaven

Colossians 1:1–8

Live in a Manner Worthy of the Lord

Colossians 1:9–14

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Romans 15:1-33
  • Romans 16:1-24
  • Colossians 1:1-14