How Do I Pursue Your Good?
As Paul concludes his letter to the Romans, he now brings us to the topic of Gospel mission. Going back to Romans 12:9, Paul calls believers to intentionally do good to others and confronting evil. With this definition of authentic love in mind, Paul models for us intentional relational investment – calling people to Gospel mission by meeting the spiritual and social needs of our communities.
This passage provides 4 points on gospel mission and how we can start pursuing God’s good for others:
- Affirmation (Character/Doctrine/Investing in others)
- Challenge (Normalizes/Reminds/Humility)
- Envision (Mission/Grace/God)
- Invitation (Partner/Pray/Give)
Affirmation (Romans 15:14)
Paul begins with an encouragement to the reader. He sees how God has moved in their lives and is confident that they will accomplish God’s purpose in their lives. Paul takes note of their character, their doctrine, and their readiness to invest in others. As a spiritual leader and teacher, Paul views each aspect as essential to Christian living. By affirming his readers, we see a template for effective mentorship that empowers others to live a life that honors God.
Challenge (Romans 15:15)
Paul is aware of the boldness in his writings. By being straightforward with the reader, he removes the sting of what he is saying by normalizing it. The challenges that we will experience shouldn’t force us to step back but motivate us to step forward into the chaos. But it’s important that we do this by the grace of God and not on our own strength. Paul not only reminds us of the harsh reality that we are living in but the hope of renewal that only the Gospel can provide. Through Jesus Christ, we are granted the boldness to proclaim the Gospel and the humility to live it out.
Envision (Romans 15:16-21)
In these verses, Paul makes it clear what his mission in life is: to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and instruct them how to live for God. He sets an example by telling others of the grace of God. Since Christ has done great things through Paul, Paul believes that God will continue to work through His people. We are all called to be examples of what transformation by the Gospel looks like. God is able to work through imperfect people that fulfill His perfect plan. This is the message of the Gospel that brings healing and restoration to those who hear and obey it. Paul wants us to see how each of us plays a part in advancing the Gospel and transforming the world in the process.
Invitation (Romans 15:22-33)
The Christian life wasn’t meant to be lived alone. One way we intentionally love others is to invite them to join us. In Paul’s example, he collected an offering to help out the poor in Jerusalem. In the midst of persecution, Paul invited others to pray for him and to partner with him in doing good works. Whatever our mission field looks like in our lives, we can follow Paul’s example of relying on fellow Christians for prayer. Through prayer, we build up one another and strive together to fulfill the Gospel mission in our lives. Paul’s emphasis on partnership encourages us to look to God and others to accomplish God’s good for those around us.
