“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you” (Romans 1:9-10).
It seems interesting that the Apostle Paul called upon God to serve as a corroborating witness to his prayers for the congregation at Rome. Of course, the church at Rome wasn’t the only congregation Paul was praying for, as we learn in his epistles to the Ephesian (Ephesians 1:15-16), Philippian (Philippians 1:3-4), Colossian (Colossians 1:3-4), and Thessalonian (1Thessalonians 1:2-3) churches.
Even though Paul had many acquaintances who attended the church at Rome, it appears that few (if any) of them were aware of his prayers on their behalf. Paul’s quiet, prayerful dedication to their well-being thus serves as a model for us to emulate. It should also prompt us to consider the following counsel from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount…
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven… And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1, 5-6 ESV).
Paul will later go on to mention the obstacles that prevented him from fulfilling his desire to visit Rome in verse thirteen. But despite those setbacks, Paul never ceased in his heartfelt prayers for the members of that congregation. In taking this prayerful approach, Paul sought to align himself with God’s will in acting on his desire to meet the members of the Roman fellowship and enjoy their company. And while Paul did indeed make it to Rome, the circumstances of his arrival there were probably not what he expected at the time he authored this epistle.
Nevertheless, God used the opportunity of that delay to produce the Biblical masterpiece we know today Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Thus, as Paul will later write in a well-known and beloved portion of this letter, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
This passage also marks the first appearance of the most significant word in this epistle: faith. One Biblical scholar highlights the various applications of this word as it appears here in the Book of Romans. For example, the word “faith” is used in three distinct ways…
So, Paul was called to be an apostle, but to what purpose? Well, that purpose is made clear in the verse quoted above where Paul tells us he was “set apart for the gospel of God.” This tells us that Paul was called to the apostolic mission of preaching the gospel (or “good news”) that…
As the capital of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome held a position of preeminence in the first-century world. From its central location in western Italy, Rome governed large portions of Europe, the near east, and north Africa during the New Testament era.
In the aftermath of any incident involving a large aircraft, a critical first step for investigators is to recover the flight data recorder, or “black box.” That device typically captures recordings of cockpit conversations, flight information, and environmental conditions that provide valuable insight into that aircraft’s journey. In a similar manner, the final chapter of the Biblical book of 2 Timothy serves as a kind of “black box” that offers insight into Paul the Apostle’s mindset as he neared the end of his earthly life.
First, Nero had self-acknowledged Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned – not so much for incendiarism as for their anti-social tendencies. Their deaths were made farcical. Dressed in wild animals’ skins, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be ignited after dark as substitutes for daylight. Nero provided his Gardens for the spectacle, and exhibited displays in the Circus, at which he mingled with the crowd – or stood in a chariot, dressed as a charioteer. 
Terrified, shrieking women, helpless old and young, people intent on their own safety, people unselfishly supporting invalids or waiting for them, fugitives and lingerers alike – all heightened the confusion. When people looked back, menacing flames sprang up before them or outflanked them. When they escaped to a neighboring quarter, the fire followed – even districts believed remote proved to be involved. Finally, with no idea where or what to flee, they crowded on to the country roads, or lay in the fields…
There, he was met by a man named Barnabas 
In addition, Paul spoke of his deep and abiding regard for two men named Titus and Timothy. For example, Paul referred to Timothy as “my own dearly loved son” (1 Timothy 1:2 Phillips) as well as “a beloved son” (2 Timothy 1:2), while characterizing Titus as, “a true son in the common faith” (Titus 1:4). This was typical of Paul’s ministry, for he clearly developed many close friendships over the course of his life. Consider the following comment to the members of the Corinthian church…
We’re 
Saul was born in the ancient city of Tarsus, likely during the early years of the first century. 
These verses also remind us that Jesus is certain to show up unexpectedly in the lives of those who fail to look for Him. Therefore, we should seek to cultivate an attitude and lifestyle that honors God and awaits Christ’s return whenever it may occur. In the meantime, Jesus presents us with an opportunity to make a difference in a world that desperately needs it. Thus, we should endeavor to take advantage of those opportunities in light of this cautionary message from Revelation 22:20..jpg){kind=link}
