Daily Devotional

The Epistle of Paul The Book of Romans series: Learning to be rooted and established in The Cross of Christ

Pray with out ceasing

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

In this verse we can tell a lot about Paul, how he was faithful to the Gospel which is Jesus and Him Crucified and that he had a strong prayer life.

When Paul says "I serve with my spirit" can be read as "in my spirit" as well and he did it all in the gospel which is Jesus and Him Crucified.

The word "I serve" in the Greek is λατρεύω latreúō, lat-ryoo'-o, from λάτρις látris and it means (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage:—serve, do the service, worship(-per).

When λατρεύω latreúō, lat-ryoo'-o is used in a religious sense, most usually denotes "worship," and specifically the priestly services of the temple.

In the Greek λατρεία latreía, lat-ri'-ah and it means, ministration of God, i.e. worship:—(divine) service.

We serve the Lord in Spirit and Truth and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that duels with in us.

Pulpit Commentary says;

"Paul's λατρεία intended here is not ceremonial function, but a spiritual one (en tw pneumati mou)—an inward devotion of himself to God's service in proclaiming and furthering "the gospel of His Son." A similar view of the essential λατρεία of Christians is found Romans 12:1; 15:16 Philippians 3:3, 2 Timothy 1:3 Hebrews 9:14."

Prayer is part of a Believers armor and its how we speak to the Lord, as believers we often take prayer for grated and not as serious as we should, It would be apparent that most Christians do not pray as they should because they do not believe that God really answers prayers, because if they did, they would pray more.

It is a fact and impossible for anyone to draw close to the Lord or even to establish a relationship with the Lord without a strong prayer life.

It is a requirement for the believer to have a strong prayer and study life in God's Word, and yet sadly to say most who call themselves Christians hardly pray at all and if they do, they only pray in case of emergency or they are in need of something from the Lord.

I thank the Lord for Paul because he knew that God answered prayer and he would not have wasted his time otherwise if his faith was not anchored in the Cross of Christ.

As we read Paul's letters today let the reader understand the Lord still speaks to us through his letters.

As I personally experience edification by reading Paul's letters today it encourages me to read God's word thoroughly and as well have a strong prayer life praying without ceasing in intercessory prayer for All Saints.

We must remember as becoming Saints, we must have faith when we approach the throne room of God in our prayers when we pray, we must know that God hears the fervent prayers of the righteous, and the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.

Everything that we receive from God comes by the way of the Cross.

James 5:6,16, 2:26; Romans 12:1,9:1, 15:16 Philippians 3:3, 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 4:12, 9:14, 11:6; John 4:23-24, 3:16,10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:11, 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 3:10, 5:23, 4:16-17; Acts 27:23; 2 Timothy 1:3; Job 14:22; Mark 11:24