Paul's Passion
Romans 1:1-17
The Apostle Paul was a passionate guy. He, before becoming a follower of Christ, was passionate about stomping out Christianity and persecuting the Christians. After his conversion, he remained passionate, but now his passion was turned in a different direction. He was passionate about spreading the gospel to the Gentiles and he was passionate about God's people, the Church.
We think of Paul as a pillar of the church so to speak, but in this passage he talks about the mutual benefit of his relationships with those fellow followers:
Romans 1:1-17
The Apostle Paul was a passionate guy. He, before becoming a follower of Christ, was passionate about stomping out Christianity and persecuting the Christians. After his conversion, he remained passionate, but now his passion was turned in a different direction. He was passionate about spreading the gospel to the Gentiles and he was passionate about God's people, the Church.
We think of Paul as a pillar of the church so to speak, but in this passage he talks about the mutual benefit of his relationships with those fellow followers:
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. (Romans 1:11-12)
In other writings, Paul makes a strong case for relationships within the church, but this passage in Romans certainly underscores the need for connection as well.
He uses some strong language. He longs to see the Romans. He wants to impart to them a spiritual gift that will help them be strong. He wants their encouragement, and he wants to encourage them as well. He wants to experience their faith face to face. Letter writing simply doesn't do it for Paul. He wants to be with them.
So is that a passion of yours, to be with God's people? I pray so, because it is pretty clear throughout the writings of Paul and the other New Testament writers that relationships are necessary to spiritual growth and maturity.
Sunday mornings are nice, but they just aren't enough. So let me take this opportunity to plug small groups. If you are not in a Home Growth Group, I strongly encourage you to get into one. If you don't know which one, talk to me. If you have a hesitation, talk to me about that.
My desire is for all of us is to grow in our faith, and we do that much better together rather than as Lone Rangers.
What Paul is talking about here is the fact that we all need each other in the body of Christ. I learn from you, and you learn from me. We are all necessary parts of the whole, and we benefit from relationships with one another. Without that, the individual believer suffers in his or her walk with God, and the Church suffers as well.
In other writings, Paul makes a strong case for relationships within the church, but this passage in Romans certainly underscores the need for connection as well.
He uses some strong language. He longs to see the Romans. He wants to impart to them a spiritual gift that will help them be strong. He wants their encouragement, and he wants to encourage them as well. He wants to experience their faith face to face. Letter writing simply doesn't do it for Paul. He wants to be with them.
So is that a passion of yours, to be with God's people? I pray so, because it is pretty clear throughout the writings of Paul and the other New Testament writers that relationships are necessary to spiritual growth and maturity.
Sunday mornings are nice, but they just aren't enough. So let me take this opportunity to plug small groups. If you are not in a Home Growth Group, I strongly encourage you to get into one. If you don't know which one, talk to me. If you have a hesitation, talk to me about that.
My desire is for all of us is to grow in our faith, and we do that much better together rather than as Lone Rangers.
So what are your thoughts? Post a comment!
It is so true - the more we minister to others the more they minister to us. All of those who believe in Him are to be ministers and they can do that by simply shairing their life with other belivers.
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