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Priscilla: Romans 1:1-7
The Servant of Christ and the Gospel of God

1 Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God,

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,

3 concerning His Son who came of the seed of David according to flesh,

4 who was marked out the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord;

5 by whom we received grace and apostleship to obedience of faith among all the nations, for His name’s sake,

6 among whom are you also, called-out ones of Jesus Christ;

7 to all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called-out saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear Heavenly Father, I would like to share with You what I have learned from meditating on Romans 1:1-7. I am grateful for the knowledge and understanding that You have given me.

I have come to understand that a person who is chosen to preach the Gospel of God is a servant of Jesus Christ. This individual is a slave to Christ, allowing Him to take control of their life. They follow the example of the Lord with meekness and humility, denying themselves to carry their cross and follow Him, even if it means suffering, just as the Apostle Paul did when he was called to serve Jesus Christ.

Dear God, I am grateful that You once spoke to me and said, “I chose you before the foundation of the world.” Your mercy and decision to appoint me as a preacher of the Gospel of Christ fill me with gratitude. I pray that the Lord will guide me to follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul as he followed Christ.

Dear God, before the foundation of the world, You appointed Jesus Christ to fulfill Your will. Through His death on the cross, mankind is saved from the power of sin and its consequences. Those who sincerely repent and receive salvation have the privilege of becoming children of God and gaining eternal life. I am thankful to You, God, for showing me mercy, choosing me, and making me Your child.

Dear God, I have come to understand that You appointed the Lord Jesus to be Your beloved Son. Through His perfect obedience and suffering, He became the Savior of all who obey Him, as stated in II Peter 1:17:

“For receiving honor and glory from God the Father such a voice being borne to Him from the magnificent glory, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have been delighted,” Psa. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Isa. 42:1; Matt. 17:5

Likewise, the Apostle Paul referred to the people of Rome as the beloved of God because of their strong faith in the Lord, demonstrated by their holy lives. Their faith was widely recognized throughout the Roman Empire, and Paul acknowledged their genuine devotion to God.

Paul greeted the people of God in Rome with a wish for grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He himself experienced this grace and peace, which comes from God’s love and choice, and from Jesus Christ’s redemption and promise of eternal life.

Dear God, I understand that despite the many hardships and difficulties that the Apostle Paul faced, he relied completely on Your providence and found joy and peace in You. Paul understood that following Your will was the purpose of his life. Therefore, he wished the people of God in Rome to experience the same grace and peace that he found in both God and Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, I ask for Your help to follow the example of the Apostle Paul and serve You with all my heart. May I be obedient to Christ as my Lord and Master, living a life that is pleasing to You and becoming one of Your beloved children. I am grateful to You for all that You have done for me.

May the grace and peace of the Triune God be with me always. I pray earnestly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
03/02/2023