Daily Word

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Romans 15:30-33. Paul’s concern is two fold: a) that he may be protected from the hostility of the Jews that has marked the whole of his ministry; b) that Jewish Christians in Jerusalem will respond to the Gentile gift, sealing the apostle’s ministry. “The God of peace” is one of Paul’s favorite references for God, but particularly appropriate here in regard to his present struggle. Some believe that those prayers were never answered because of what happened to Paul. However, Paul still made it to Rome just not in the manner in which he or they had anticipated. Even as a prisoner Paul entered Rome with the Joy of Christ and as an encouragement for fellow Christians. When your looking to God for one direction and He brings about another completely opposite from what you wanted .Do you find yourself bent out of shape and complaining about it or do you look past what you wanted and get about the Father’s business?