God’s Good News (PART 1)
Posted on September 4, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call
8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart[a] by spreading the Good News about his Son.
10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,[b] that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world,[c] to the educated and uneducated alike.15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[d] 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”[e] Romans 1:8-17 (NLT)
On a cool and comfortable afternoon, it was such a nice day that I sat out at the picnic table with my Dr. Pepper (a weakness), and opened to where I last left off in my study in Romans 1:8-17. I didn’t expect to spend the next two hours on 10 verses, but when I was done I felt the Lord encourage me to turn my notes into a Victory Call, so here goes nothing!
In the above passage, Paul starts with being thankful because the Roman church is known for its faith worldwide. He goes on to talk about how constantly he prays for these people, people he hasn’t met (v. 8-9). This made me question myself:
1) Am I living a life of faith that people can thank God for?
2) Am I praising God for the work His people are doing worldwide?
3) Am I praying for missionaries, people in ministry, and the persecuted church? Constantly?
4) If there is room for improvement in any of these areas, and there is, what am I going to do about it?
Caitlin
Caitlin Culleny is a graduate of Stockton University and has served on staff for 3 years as a Soul Care worker at Barbara’s Place. She is thrilled to be participating in writing Victory Calls for her sisters in Christ!
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