◄ What Does Romans 1:10 Mean? ►

Paul had a great love for the Gentile churches that had placed their trust in the Lord Jesus and the Christians in Rome were no exception. Paul knew that the believers in the pagan city of Rome, were deeply loved by the Lord and called to be saints - for His greater praise and eternal glory.

The first thing that Paul wrote, after his characteristic greeting of "grace be to you and peace," was a grateful word of thanksgiving to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for the faith which was being proclaimed throughout the whole world by these dearly beloved saints in Rome. Paul rejoiced to see that their trust in Christ had become a wonderful witness to the world as the glorious gospel of God's grace was spread abroad through their testimony.

Paul was also a man of prayer, and we know that he prayed specifically and continuously for the needs of the saints of God who lived in various regions of Asia minor. Often he prayed that they would grow in grace, receive spiritual gifts, be fruitful in their ministry, and be kept by the power of God. But Paul's earnest desire to visit the saints in Rome was uppermost in his heart and this yearning desire was reflected in his prayer: "I unceasingly make mention of you, always in my prayers," he wrote, "making my earnest request - if perhaps now, at last, by the will of God, I may succeed in coming to you."

Paul had never visited Rome, although he knew many of the saints who lived there. However, his earnest desire to visit these believers, share their common faith, and give one another spiritual encouragement, was evidenced in the historical record of the book of Acts, and elsewhere.

But there is one very notable thing about which we should take account - for despite the earnest desire of Paul's heart to visit the great city of Rome and give mutual encouragement to the saints who lived there, his prayer was that his journey would be in accordance with the will of God. Paul did not put his own will and personal desire above the will and direction of the Lord, for he prayed "if perhaps now at last.. by the will of God, I may succeed in coming to you."

Paul's heartfelt desire to visit the believers in Rome was to further establish them in the faith which is reflected in this verse of Scripture: "always in my prayers I make request, if perhaps now at last, by the will of God, I may succeed in coming to you - For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established.. that is, that I may be encouraged together with you, while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine."

We do not know who initially shared the good news of the gospel of grace with the people of Rome, but we do know that the epistle to the Romans that Paul wrote to the saints there, was the most comprehensive and structured exposition of every aspect of our Christian faith which we would all do well to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest - to be established in the faith and grounded in the truth of the glorious gospel of God.

Heavenly Father, how blessed we are to be part of the wider family of God and thank You for the epistle to the Romans and the comprehensive and structured exposition of every aspect of our Christian faith. Help me to understand and apply all the truth that it contains, and give me a desire to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, that we may all grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Paul's example whose dear desire was to remain in the centre of Your perfect will. I pray that like Him I may be ready and willing to pray 'Thy will be done' in every area of my life - to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.