"8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also."
These verses make something very clear about the apostle Paul: Paul loved people... In fact, it's not a stretch to see that Paul's heart and God's heart are the same!
"...without ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers" (vs 9)
"I long to see you..." (vs 11)
"...oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,)" (vs 13)
Those three statements show a clear and simple testimony of a heart that is filled with compassion and tender care for the recipients of this letter, and so we are to be as the ambassadors of Christ in this dark and dying world (2Cor 5:17-21).
Jesus Christ freely and willingly chose to love unlovely sinners, and he proved his love by being made sin for all mankind upon the cursed
cross (1Jn 4:10; 2Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13). He took God's wrath for all sin so that all men would have the opportunity to escape the judgment that is to come. What greater love can there be than this love?!?!
As Christ loved us, so we are to love others... No excuses are allowed!!
Eph 4:29-32; 5:1-2; Jn 13:34-35; Rom 12:17-21; Matt 5:44
-Stephen
No comments:
Post a Comment