Friday 5 Nov 2021

November 5: Romans 15:14-21
 
Key Verse: Romans 15:18
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done
 
Devotion:
I wonder how much opposition Paul got for going to teach the gentiles about Jesus after all the disciples went to teach their own people, the Jews, instead. No matter what Paul faced, he would continue to teach the gentiles as much as he could, recounting how he used to be before he got to know Jesus and comparing it to how much he had changed and how much he could teach now.
 
It is not because of the opposition he kept going but because he got a lot of support! He probably would not have been able to continue if all he got was opposition. He needed the support of those who came to know Jesus to keep him going – just as we do. But it is not the be all and end all to have hundreds of followers or hundreds of people you have taught Jesus to.
 
Paul sums it up quite nicely by saying he was convinced the gentiles he had come into contact with were full of goodness and they had learned enough to start teaching each other more about Jesus. This should be our goal – to get people to understand who Jesus is and give them the love and support to be able to go out there and teach others what they have learned. This is discipleship!
 
But Paul knew this was not his doing, but Christ working through Him. He knew it was because he was able to obey God. He knew the healing and miracles which did happen were because God granted them and not his own power. No matter what, he stood by the promised God gave that the whole world would get to hear the gospel and many would get to believe it and have faith in Christ.
 
Points to Ponder:
Have you told anyone about Christ?
 
Will you keep spreading the gospel with me?