Week 2 - Wednesday

An Obligation to the Gospel

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Romans 1:14-15)

Paul did not preach the gospel because it was an easy job or because he thought he could make a lot of money doing it. In fact he received very little, and often preferred to accept nothing, for the work he did in teaching the gospel. Paul also had another job as a tentmaker. As he traveled, he would often preach the gospel during the day and then work as a tentmaker at night. If he preached at night, he might work as a tentmaker during the day. This heavy work load, along with his traveling, left him with little time for anything else. A person might wonder why Paul was so totally consumed with doing God's work. Paul felt he had an obligation to preach the gospel because he knew it was what God wanted him to do. Paul also felt obligated to preach the gospel because he knew that all unbelievers faced eternal condemnation by God. God had been merciful in saving him and and he wanted to see as many others saved as possible. Paul was not prejudiced toward people either. God doesn't favor one person above another because of things such as race, nationality or intelligence. Anyone who comes to Christ, will be accepted by Him. Therefore these things didn't matter to Paul either.

Even though he was often under severe persecution and hardship Paul was still eager to preach the gospel. He knew that in Rome, just like everywhere else he went, persecution and great danger awaited him. However Paul firmly faced hardships and persecution. He even rejoiced in his sufferings. He knew that the worst anyone could do was to kill him. But that would only put him with the Lord, which was where he would rather be anyway. What about you? Are you eager to tell others about Christ? God was kind enough to save you. Shouldn't you have the same compassion for those who still need to be saved? Also, if God has saved you, He now expects you to produce fruit for Him. Just like Paul, you have an obligation to fulfill. In the last several verses we have learned a lot about Paul. He is an excellent role model for us to follow. Paul was thankful to God (Rom. 1:8), concerned for others (Rom. 1:9), constantly praying (Rom. 1:10), submissive to God's will (Rom. 1:10), loving (Rom. 1:11), humble (Rom. 1:12), fruit producing (Rom. 1:13), obedient (Rom. 1:14), unprejudiced (Rom. 1:15), and eager to serve God (Rom. 1:15). Ask God to produce these qualities in you as you seek to serve Him in leading others to Christ.

Readings for today: 1 Cor. 9:14-23; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; Rom. 10:11-13; Phil. 1:21-23; 1 Cor. 11:1