Read: Romans 1:13-17 (NLT)
I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, 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. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believesâthe Jew first and also the Gentile. 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, âIt is through faith that a righteous person has life.â
Life doesnât always go the way we want. This truth can feel more pressing at times than others. As Paul opens his letter to the Romans he expresses his disappointment that he has been unable to visit them in person. He longs to be with them; he wants to work with them and serve with them and teach them face-to-face, but even as Paul writes this letter, God has so far prevented this desire from coming to fruition.Â
I once heard Sinclair Ferguson say that if Paul had gotten his way, we might not have the book of Romans. This book that has impacted believers for thousands of years might not exist if Paul had been able to visit Rome. In fact this very chapter, specifically verse 17, inspired Martin Luther to begin the Reformation.
Thinking back, it’s hard to imagine Paul rejoicing in having to write his thoughts instead of sharing them in person. He had no way of knowing what God had in store for this letter. Paul couldnât have imagined the numerous people who would pour over his words, who would draw so much knowledge of the Savior from this single letter. As he sat dictating or writing this letter, was he frustrated he couldnât go and be with his brothers and sisters in Christ? Was he confused as to why God had held him back from this visit?
I canât flesh out in this short writing how we deal with disappointments in life, but I do think we can learn from Paulâs experience to endure and continue the good work as we trust the Lord in the midst of disappointment and uncertainty.Â
Through the book of Romans we will learn deep truths that help us walk through the tough moments of life. These had to be truths that comforted Paul as he sat in moments of disappointment. He spoke the truths of Christâs salvation; his own righteousness; Godâs unfailing love towards him, a sinner; and the Holy Spiritâs guidance for understanding the depths of Godâs truths.
As we journey through the book of Romans, I hope that we learn from Paul:Â not that things just sit in our head, but that they work their way into how we think, move, live, and interact with others. As we read through Romans, we will hear Paulâs longing for these people to live a life worthy of their salvation, and we will be challenged by the nudging of the Holy Spirit to do the same.Â
There will be moments in life, some short, some long, where we donât know what is going on. May Romans be a book of deeply rich truths for you personally that will challenge you, strengthen you, and help you endure those moments of doubt, uncertainty, or disappointment. I pray that our study of these passages in this book will take us to places in our faith that we need to go. It will challenge how we live, love, and think, and for that reason, we as a church can learn from this letter Paul didnât necessarily intend for us, but God did.
