Unashamed Reading Plan – W1D3
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 1 | Day 3
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.
Bible Reading: Romans 1:8-13
Read these verses three times slowly.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Reflection & Questions
It is quite amazing that Paul writes ‘the greatest letter ever written’ to people he’s never met. It is not for lack of trying. He tells them in the verses today that “I planned many times to come to you.” But just because he hasn’t met them, doesn’t mean they are ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ In fact he prays for them “at all times” and he longs to see them. Why? There are two reasons he tells them “to make you strong” and to have “a harvest among you.” This is discipleship and evangelism. Paul’s heart is to build believers and reach the unreached.
This is our same priority at Crossroads. Our mission is to “Lead every ONE to discover JESUS and follow Him fully.” We believe each of us should have a ONE that we are reaching and then building up in the faith. We are to be disciples making disciples. It’s an amazing privilege we have. Like Paul, let’s be praying, longing and looking for opportunities to reach and build.
- Who is your ONE? How are you praying for them? What is a way you could reach or build them up this week?
- Paul says that being with the Romans would be a chance together to be “mutually encouraged.” What does he mean? How does this apply to you?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Romans 1:8-13
Read these verses three times slowly.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Reflection & Questions
Have you ever written a letter to someone that you haven’t met? That’s what Paul was doing when he wrote to the Romans. He had tried many times to visit them as it says in today’s verses, but just because he hasn’t met them yet doesn’t mean he doesn’t think of them and pray for them. As a matter of fact, he remembers them in his prayers “at all times.” He also longs to see them. Why? There are two big reasons: 1. “To make you strong” which means being a disciple and 2. To have “a harvest among you” which means to teach others about Jesus. Paul’s heart is to build disciples like you and me and to tell other people about Jesus.
This is also our goal at Crossroads: to “Lead every ONE to discover JESUS and follow Him fully.” We believe that each of us should have ONE person that we are trying to reach out to so that we can teach them about Jesus and help them grow as Christians. We are disciples who are following Jesus and we are also making new disciples to follow him too! That’s a pretty cool responsibility that God gave to us. Let’s be like Paul, praying and searching for ways that we can reach out to others and teach them about Jesus.
- Can you think of one person that you would like to invite to church?
Prayer
Tell Jesus thank you for dying on the cross to save us from our sins. Thank him for always forgiving us. Ask him to help you forgive others.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
