In elders meeting this morning the text we discussed was Romans 15:14-33.
23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
30 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, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company
Paul’s prayer here is uniquely instructive and comforting.
Of all Paul’s prayers, why do I like this one so much?
Because it is so…
So normal.
He says things that we say like, “I plan to…” “I hope to…” “I am on my way….”
But if you know the rest of the story you know that his plans were not fulfilled and his way did not end up going exactly the way he had planned it to go.
Paul asked to be delivered from the persecutors in Judea. But he was in fact arrested because of their malicious influence.
He shares prayer requests about his travel plans for Spain. But the way Acts ends leads us to the conclusion that Paul never did complete those plans.
Paul did not know the end from the beginning. He labored with great zeal and prayed with great fervor. And he lived with God saying “Yes” or “Wait” or “No.”
By the power of God’s Spirit, I am seeking to do the same.
Are you?