Read: Romans 1:1-15

I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (v. 15)

Paul’s excitement for God’s mission crackles like lightning across the page, even after 19 ½ centuries. It is all the more impressive considering he wrote these words after some 20 years of hard missionary labor. All those miles travelled, the toil, dangers, physical suffering, personal attacks, conflicts, and controversies–could you have blamed Paul if he had said he’d had enough? But no. “I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome!”

Paul’s eagerness has several sources. His gospel ministry was part of his worship, his spiritual service to God (v. 9). He looked for pleasure and mutual benefit from fellowship with the Christians in Rome (vv. 11-12). His enthusiasm is also explained by his sense of obligation (v. 14). The Lord had transformed his life, turning him from an enemy of the gospel into a lover of Christ and his church. Paul felt a debt of gratitude, and he wanted to “pay it forward” so others could experience the gospel’s saving power (cf. vv. 16-17).

But there’s one more reason why Paul was eager to preach to the Christians in Rome. He looked for their help to aid him in his ultimate goal of reaching as far as Spain on his missionary journeys (cf. 15:23-24). The book of Romans isn’t just a theological treatise. It’s a missionary support letter, and any church that takes it seriously will commit to supporting missionaries like Paul.

—David Bast

Prayer:

Lord, make me eager to share your good news.