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Romans 1:9-10

God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

In a continuation of his prayer for the Romans, Paul prays that he will be accepted by the Romans and be able to come and visit them in person to minister to them. Paul was a missionary commissioned by God to reach the lost (specifically for Paul the Gentiles). That call to be a missionary hasn’t closed for today, and there are thousands of people working across the globe, away from their home towns, in bible translation, medical assistance, church planting, child care and the list goes on. Missionaries do what they do for the glory of God; to tell about God’s love, utilizing the God given skills they have. Paul was a missionary using his gifts of teaching to reach a wide number of early churches, most of which were most likely collections of house churches. For a detailed itinerary of Paul’s missionary travels, read the book of Acts, but in summary we know that Paul in his life traveled from as far east as Jerusalem and Antioch (Syria) to as far west as Rome.

When Paul is writing to the Romans, it is believed he is staying in Corinth (Greece) during his third missionary journey.

How can I, sitting in my home town at my office job have the same effect as Paul, who was travelling to almost everywhere he could get to with the message of the Gospel? I know sometimes use the excuse of ‘I’ll support the international missionaries with my prayer, and that’ll be enough’. Enough for what? We, as Christians are all called to be missionaries, no matter where we are. I don’t think it’s a case of ‘I feel God calling me here’ or ‘I feel God calling me there’. I believe God calls you wherever you are to be a missionary. If your skill is international relations or languages, then God is calling you to minister in that area. If your skills are in accounting or window cleaning, than God is calling you to use those skills for the glory of him and the furthering of his Kingdom.

ASK YOURSELF: What are your gifts and abilities? How can you use those gifts to be a missionary?

Dear God, I pray that you will help me to always put you ahead of my own desires for earthly comfort and welfare. Give me the desire to reach the lost. Thank you for blessing me with the skills and abilities you have given me. Help me to see the opportunities to love others.