Striven to Preach the Gospel Romans 15:20

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “ I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed”, and he added, “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” In chapter fifteen and verse twenty of Romans, Paul shared how he was, “striven to preach the gospel” where we read:

Yes, so have I striven to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named,

lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

The verse begins, “Yes, so have I striven to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, ...” Paul began with the word, “yes” which means “moreover and” “so have I striven” or “Paul was actuated by love of honor, ambitious and earnestly making it his aim” “to preach” which means “to bring, announce and declare” “the gospel” or “the glad tidings or good news”, “not where Christ” which refers to “in no place where the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “was named” which means “was assigned an appellation, uttered or professed”. Paul determined to “proclaim” the “gospel of Jesus Christ” where the people had never heard it before.

The verse goes on to say, “... lest I should build upon another man's foundation:”. Paul added the word, “lest” which means “in order and so that” “I should build” or “Paul would not found, establish or promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness and blessedness” “upon another man's” which refers to “on another person whether male or female's” “foundation” or “beginnings, first principles, institution or system of truth”. Paul did not desire to “find, establish or promote the gospel” among people who already knew about it.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how it was important that he not share the “gospel” in places where it was already shared. His desire was to tell people who did not know about Jesus how God sent Him to die for their sins and was raised after the third day so they might be saved. Rather than “build upon” the work of another person, Paul wanted to “establish” the work anew time and time again. Today there are “Unreached and Unengaged” people groups who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there are many opportunities to “preach” among them. May those who know Jesus “strive to preach the good news of Jesus” like Paul to those who have never heard.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how he operated, “To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.