Week of December 19, 2010, Romans 1:1-7

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 1, verses 1-7. Paul lets the reader know that he is acting as a servant, and an apostle – that is, one who is sent out, to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News. And Paul puts things in perspective: that this is Jesus, the One who descended from King David, the One who the prophets in the Old Testament were telling the Israelite nation was coming, and the One who rose from the dead. This Man is God made flesh, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Beginning with verse 1:
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Jesus – Thanks for breaking into our world as God and as man, as a baby and as a King, as a servant and with power. Thanks, Jesus, for calling us to be obedient and to trust by faith Your kingdom promises, that You are God, that You are Emmanuel, God with us, who suffered and died for our sins, and who reminds us that You love us so overwhelmingly from our perspective, and unconditionally. You call us to be a holy people, who declare You to be Savior and Lord.

Thanks, Jesus, that You come to each of us as Savior, and to each of us as Lord. Thanks for Your grace and peace, and Your presence with us always. Amen.

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring us comfort, guide us in our decisions, and fill us
with a fervent desire to serve Him better.
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may leave a message or prayer request by emailing me at: peacewm@tds.net.
May we be more and more aware of God’s presence as Emmanuel, with us always, helping, comforting, healing, and strengthening.