Paul, the author of Romans, always thought in big picture terms. He was preoccupied with the kingdom of God and he planned his life according to the impact he felt he could have for the gospel. You will see this reflected in this epistle (letter) to the church in Rome. Paul teaches the people not only for their sake but for the sake of their impact on the broader work of the gospel in the empire. Rome was the capital of the empire and also, for Paul, a necessary base for the mission he was planning to Spain. It was therefore important that this church become something of a flagship church for the rapidly growing Christian movement. Given the importance of the Roman church, Paul sets about building a strong foundation for their faith. He wants the church to partner with him in his mission to Spain and so he gives them a thorough grounding in the theology of the gospel. Like us, Paul was concerned about making a living (which he did by tent-making) yet his ultimate goals in life were set above these mundane things. He was only a man, but he believed that, in God, he could do great things. So can you. Like Paul, learn to live in the light of the bigger picture of what God is doing in the world.
Think about how you fit into the big picture of what God is doing in your church and in your part of the world.
Read Romans 1:1-15
