A Reason to Be Together

Word Unpacked: Devotionals in Romans

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Romans 15:30-33 (NIV)

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God's will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul is writing this letter from Corinth, about to walk toward a city full of people who want him dead. Before he leaves, he does something that might surprise us — he stops and asks for prayer.

His first request makes perfect sense. Keep me safe. Wanting to live is human, and nobody would fault him for stopping there.

But he doesn't stop there. His second request is stranger: that a gift of money — collected from churches who'd never even met the people receiving it — would actually be accepted. Because if it wasn't, something much bigger than money would be falling apart.

And then a third request, quieter than the first two. Not for the relief of finally arriving, but for what comes after: sitting down together, finally able to breathe.

Line up all three side by side, and something strange comes into view. He wasn't only praying to survive.

That's the turn. But...