March 11th - Reflection

Romans 1:8-17 (NRSV)
Live by faith
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, asking that by God's will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith."

Reflection
Have you ever remembered someone always in your prayers? Especially those with a strong faith. Those you pray for daily that their faith may remain strong. Strong through all suffering...strong through all pain...strong through all the situations that life seems to bring. You pray that Jesus would be with that person or persons in such a meaningful way that they will feel and know of his presence and follow Jesus. You pray for a deep spiritual gift to be active in them that the world they live in may know of the gospel love that God has planted within their hearts.

Have you ever remembered someone always in your prayers and wanted to be with them? I think that may be that agape love that God gives to us from time to time. A love that is always unashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.

Have you ever remembered someone always in your prayers?

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I bring before you this day those faithful witnesses of your love and your gospel. I give you thanks for those who model your love. Be with and protect all in your way...today...tomorrow...and always. --- Amen