I spent a lot of time in the fall of 2013 in Romans. A lot of time.
I had never really spent much time reading through the truths of Romans. Like, I knew most of it. But I just never planted my feet there and walked through that section of Scripture.
So I decided that I should probably do that.
And I did.
Oh the truth to be found in that letter!
I still don’t understand most of it. But as I reflect back to what I learned in my time in Romans, I am overwhelmed by the grace of God. I am overwhelmed to see Him at work in the lives of so many people, even my own.
But most of all, as I read and studied my way through Romans, the following verses burdened my heart to pray over my upcoming season of life in the World Race, but also for my life in general.
Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
As I meditated on this verse, I realized that often I don’t desire for those who are hostile to the gospel of grace to receive salvation.
That’s a problem.
I’m called to be an ambassador of Christ to the nations. I’m called to represent Christ to those who do not know Him. But if my heart’s desire was not to see the nations know Christ, then I am failing in my mission. Because if I don’t desire it, then I know I will not be praying to that end.
Conviction swept over my soul, and it still does.
I pray often for the desire to want to pray for their salvation. And God is changing me. He’s changing my heart. He’s giving me the desire to pray for the nations. He’s burdening my heart with the lost and hurting of this world. He’s burdening my heart with them, because they need His salvation. And salvation comes through hearing the gospel.
Romans 14:7-8
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
These verses brought much comfort as I read though them and prayed through them.
They reminded me that as I go on the Race, and even now, I’m not living for myself. I’m living for the One who gave Himself for me. I’m living to the glory of the Almighty.
And not just that, but I will be living in community with brothers and sisters. And we’ll be on this mission together. We’ll be living for the Lord. And we belong to Him. We are His.
Romans 15: 5-6
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray for this all the time: unity. I pray for unity in my local church. I pray for unity in my family.
And I’m praying big time for unity in my squad and in my future team. I pray through these verses often, because I long to see my squad come together with one accord: to bring glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that we seek His face together and that we spend ourselves to bring honor to the King.
We need Christ to unify us. Because if we try to come together apart from Him, everything will fall apart. But if we are united under the cross, then our foundation is Christ and we will not be shaken.
