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I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
Romans 1:14-15

Paul was not a professional preacher. His commitment to the gospel was far more profound.

Earlier in the chapter he has described his preaching work as "serving" God; he has been "called" to be an apostle; he is aware of having been "set apart" for the gospel. It is possible, however, that some readers (then and now) could misinterpret this language and conclude that Paul's service was essentially external - that he did the work but had no personal heart investment in the activity.

Actually nothing could be further from the truth. Paul was internally motivated about the work of gospel preaching. I am obligated he says: I am eager to preach the gospel . It was much more than a task. It was an internal drive.

The apostle Paul says something similar in his letter to the church in Corinth: I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

It is this inner compulsion to preach that is one of the indications of a genuine call to do this work. The prophet Jeremiah experienced something similar: But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

The Welsh preacher Martyn Lloyd Jones said that when training young men for Christian ministry, he saw part of his role being to discourage them from perusing such a path. In doing so, he wanted only those who could not be put off to remain in training.

Charles Spurgeon, a century earlier, made a similar point. If a preacher could as easily be a bank clerk or a grocer or a business man - let him do so! The work of gospel preaching is only for those who, like Paul, were called, obligated and set apart for the work. Such men will be unable to hold in God's word. It will burn inside them like fire and they will feel compelled to preach it!

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
Romans 1:14-15

Posted in apostle Paul | calling | Christian service | gospel | preaching | prophet More Important Than Anything | | | | 232 reads