Thursday August 19, 2021

God, I am here to go deeper and learn from You. Come Holy Spirit, speak to my heart and mind in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Romans 16:20-27

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Today we read the final words of Paul’s letter to the Romans. He brings this presentation of what he describes in verse 25 as, “the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ,” with the powerful reminder that this message is a gift of God that has been revealed and can only be received by the power of God.
Within this benediction, Paul also speaks to “the goal” of faith – the reason for this revelation – reaffirming the purpose in his writing. It’s one word we find in verse 26. It’s obedience “that comes through faith.” The way that we live is our witness to how fully we have received the gospel.
Romans is deep. Parts of it are difficult to understand. Perhaps this is why this final word is so important. In the end, it’s about obedience – the life that we choose to live in response to this good news.

Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I do and say. Amen.