Romans 15:31: That I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
To those with Pauline hearts, the request, “Brother, pray for me,” is not a cliché, and neither is the response, “I will pray for you.” The missionary heart is, indeed, a heart that believes in prayer. Now let us bring the pieces together. A missionary heart is a heart that sees its mission as entirely sacred. The sacredness of the work comes from seeing oneself as a priest offering up his or her service as a fragrant offering to Christ. Therefore, it regards its own life, however prosaic and mundane, as a liturgy. Let us ask God to help us see all of life as glorifying him. 1
Application
- Read Romans 12:1. How can you make your service be acceptable to God today?
- How can you inspire others to experience the joy of serving Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, help my service to others be from a pure heart.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.