Daily Word

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience-by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the spirit of God-so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; Romans 15-18-19. Paul summarizes up his whole ministry up to this point by saying that Christ accomplished His work through him by word and deed, that is, both by Paul’s preaching about Christ and by Paul’s actions (lifestyle, with mighty works) that accompanied those words. “By the power of signs and wonders” refers to the miracles that accompanied Paul’s gospel proclamation throughout his entire ministry. Such miracles gave a ”sign” of (or pointed to) the power of God, the divine origin of truth of the gospel, and God’s mercy and love for people. They were “wonders” in that people were amazed by them. Paul has fulfilled his mandate to preach the gospel among the Gentiles from Jerusalem to Illyricum. How can Paul say his work has been complete when many still have not heard the gospel in his area? It can be seen in other verses that churches were planted in key centers, and from there Paul’s coworkers will bring the gospel to out lying areas. People today run from church to church seeking “signs and wonders.” It is because there is such a lack of maturity that so many fail to recognize that “signs and wonders” occur daily in our own lives that more than prove the power of God. They are simply missed or over looked because have become so busy in our lives, and have become so much like the world that our expectation of “signs and wonders” is in an epic proportion. Today, look for “signs and wonders” in your daily life that prove the power of God!