JC Blog

This is a wonderful testament to the heart of God's people. Paul is sharing a marvelous account of believers who came together to provide relief for their brothers and sisters in Christ who were struggling. The Jews in Jerusalem where living in extreme poverty. Because of their confession of Christ they had been thrown out of the synagogue and subsequently lost all connections with families, communities and ways to make a living. As believers they faced extreme persecution and extreme poverty living in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish life.

As the result, the Gentile churches that were growing around Asia heard of their distress and took it upon themselves to collect an offering to be sent as relief for these believers. We read about this preparation and Paul's instruction to the churches in I Corinthians 16 & II Corinthians 8 & 9. This is where we get wonderful truths about giving. The Gentile churches pioneered the heart of giving cheerfully when needs arose.

After they had collected the offering they had tasked Paul and his companions to deliver the gift to the believers there. Paul is sharing his plans of returning to Jerusalem to deliver their gift and then journeying on to Rome to visit this growing church. He reminds us of a wonderful truth in the middle of these verses. The Gentile church was overjoyed to share with the poor in Jerusalem because they had been blessed by the gospel that Jews had shared with them. They had benefited from their spiritual blessings and so it seemed right that they would also share with these people their material blessings. This act was completely voluntary on the part of the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. They were overjoyed and willing to give what they had because the gospel they received had changed their lives. So they gave out of a grateful and thankful heart. Paul wrote to these churches and told them, "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" ( II Corinthians 9:12 ).

What a marvelous truth to know that our gifts express thankfulness to God for what He has done in sending Jesus. It is another way for us to praise him and show our gratitude to him.  These churches were great examples in giving with a pure heart. I am sure as the church in Rome read these words of Paul they were encouraged by the faith of other believers. I am sure they were also excited at the prospect of Paul's visit and encouraged in the truth of this letter. Today, I am thankful that Jews shared in their spiritual blessings so that the world could have the good news of Jesus Christ. Today, I pray that this gospel changes your heart and you dwell in gratefulness and thankfulness to God for what he has done, amen!

Christ is the bond that transcends both time and distance. Even though Paul had never personally met the Christians in Rome, he longed for many years to visit and spend time with them. He started out this letter by saying, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world" ( Romans 1:8 ). The Christians in Rome had a reputation of faith in Jesus Christ. People had heard about them because their faith was the topic of conversation that spread back to the starting ground of Christianity. Because of this Paul longed to see them, he went on to say in the beginning of this letter "God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. ( Romans 1:9-10 ). Paul continually praised God for their faith every time he thought of them. He prayed constantly for them and for an opportunity to come to them. As Paul starts to close this letter to the believers in Rome he fills them in on his plan to visit as he travels to Spain.

Because of the faith report that Paul received about the Christians in Rome, he knew that they would participate in his missionary work once he got there. He mentioned it in his letter so that these believers would be prepared when he came. Paul wanted to give them the opportunity to share in the blessing that comes with giving. He understood that those who give are active participants in spreading the gospel to places where they hadn't gone. He fully expected them to aid him on his journey as he proceeded to Spain. He planned to come and stay with them; teaching and training them in the grace of God. Then he planned to go and preach the gospel to areas that had never heard the good news of Christ.

As we read about his missionary journeys in the book of Acts, we see that Paul never made it to Spain but did in fact make it to Rome. As he wrote this letter he was on his way to Jerusalem to offer the financial relief that the Christians in Asia had provided them. While there, he was arrested and eventually sent to Rome to plead his case ( Acts 21-28 ). While in Rome, Paul was allowed to spend the rest of his days meeting with these Christians and everyone else who came to hear the good news of the grace of God. "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" ( Acts 28:30-31 ).

What an amazing finish in life to be able to share the gospel unhindered by the persecution that always followed him around. Paul finally got to Rome to meet these believers that he cared so deeply about. The bond in Christ unified them as they learned under the apostle Paul for those few years. Today, may you also share the good news of Christ Jesus unhindered and like the apostle Paul see tremendous results as people respond to this amazing message of grace.