Bible Study with Danelle

The book of Romans is my favorite. Maybe it is because I have studied it the most out of all the books, but for good reason. It is the most comprehensive theology of all the letters.

Paul wrote this letter in about AD 57 during his third missionary trip. He longed to go to Rome to visit and preach to them, but was prevented from doing so. He did finally make it to Rome years later and it would eventually be where it is said he died a martyr at the under the Roman Emperor Nero.

Paul identifies himself at the very beginning of the letter as a “servant of Christ Jesus” and he truly was. He brought the Good News to so many and was truly a servant of Jesus.

The opening of the letter is a reminder to the believers of Rome as to who they are. Just like we saw in Ephesians, Paul reminds them of the importance of their relationship with God and that ALL are welcome in His kingdom.

“Including YOU who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” v6

Yup…that means YOU TOO!

This little verse is kind of hidden I think. I reread this section a few times until it came to me just how important this short sentence is.

How amazing is it that we are ALL called to belong to Jesus.

Every. Single. One. Of. Us.

But what does it mean to belong to Jesus? Well, Paul tells us that in verse 5: obedience in faith. This means having a personal relationship with God (prayer, reading His word, etc.) and the deliberate choices that we make each day to follow Jesus. Living apart of sin and repenting when we do. Listening to God through prayer and meditation on His word and respond to how He wants you to live your purpose.

I encourage you to journal as you read through this book over the next 21 days. God will speak to you through it. I am excited to see what God says to me and then go back and look at what I journaled the previous times.

Every time you re-read God’s word, He has something new to show you.

I pray today you will be blessed by God’s reminder that you are called to belong to Him.