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Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)
Paul closes out his great letter to the believers in Rome with what scholars call The Final Doxology. Paul loves all believers, but those in the capital city of the world hold a special place in his heart. He yearns to visit them on his way to Spain, but work among believers in need kept him from making that trip as he had planned. And a subsequent arrest made his trip to Rome possible, but not on the terms Paul desired. Yet, the closing words of the letter, today's passage, speak of his desire and need to always praise God. Paul found strength in God, as can we, and Paul found pleasure in sharing the Good News with all people. No longer could the mystery of God's love be kept as such, but now was the basis for sharing Good News. Paul knew that what Christ had shared with him had changed his life, and he had seen many lives changed as well. People came to faith through the sharing of the Good News, and it was the kind of faith that also brought obedience to God.
Faith without obedience is not really much of a faith. Paul shared the faith spoken of in the Bible that brought about change in a person's life, then brought about the change needed in the person's community or church. A Sunday sit and listen, go home, do just what we need, return back Sunday to sit and listen again, is not really faith. Faith is about helping, loving, showing God's love when it is needed most. Last night our son-in-law, Jorge Garcia, shared a letter from his school with the names and needs of students during this holiday season. It's their Christmas List and quite honestly it made Nellie and I cry. I can't share names, but I can share with you the needs that children from an area south of here need. A sixth grader wrote,"I just need a coat for me because mine doesn't fit anymore." Another just wrote, "Blankets." A sixth grade girl: "My wish is to have a Christmas tree." Another: "Jacket, Blanket, Food." Many of these kids for the two weeks they are out of school will have little to nothing to eat. Another girl wrote, "I wish I can buy jackets for my family and a computer to do my homework." A little boy: "All I want for Christmas is a working heater. This month is too cold and my sisters and I get really cold at night." Followed by one who also wrote, "Heater - sometimes I can't sleep at night because the house is too cold." Faith responds to such needs, and from what we understand many of the teachers at that school have adopted these families to share what they can. Faith is knowing that what we take for granted can be the greatest needs of someone else.
PRAYER: Lord, increase our faith, and make us obedient enough to respond to needs around us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Look around and meet needs you see. Let your faith be an obedient one.
Eradio Valverde
