Romans 15. Uncontainable joy! Perfect peace! That’s maturity.

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Earlier this year, we took a journey together through the Old Testament book of  Isaiah. Paul, as a learned rabbi and the author of the letter to the church at Rome, quoted regularly from the Prophet. So, let’s take the next few weeks together to look at the New Testament book of Romans.


You may listen to today’s devotional message by clicking the start button above.

Romans 15.

Jesus came for the Jew and the non-Jew. Paul’s assignment was to bring the Gospel to all the world. Yet even though he was a Jew who came to know Jesus first-hand, God’s marching orders for the Missionary were primarily to the non-Jewish world. His various journeys took him far from Judea. In fact, here in Romans 15, he is planning a journey all the way to Spain, with a stop-over to those he has addressed this letter to, the church in Rome.

Paul notes that Jesus came to serve and bring hope. And that’s our assignment too! Our daily strength is for service not for status. Our charge is maturity. 

Again, Paul quotes from the Ancient Text, and notes how relevant it is for us, even today. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. (v4-6, MSG).

Uncontainable joy! Perfect peace! That’s maturity.

Spiritual maturity is God’s goal for us. May I ask you frankly, how are you doing in that area? Are you growing deeper in your personal relationship with Jesus every day? I’m asking myself that question as well. Maturity is a common theme in Paul’s letters. He challenges us to focus on spiritual maturity in five other letters: 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Timothy! We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. (Colossians 1:28, MSG).

We are designed by God Himself to grow into greater spiritual maturity each day; not to merely tread water. How do we grow? Through the power of the Holy Spirit! Peace. Joy. Hope. Strength. Love. 

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! (v13, TPT).

Uncontainable joy! Perfect peace! Trusting God. That’s maturity. And you will shine with a waterfall of unshakable hope through the Holy Spirit.

As Paul begins to wrap this letter up, I love the glimpse into the humanness of who he is. He sums up his evangelistic travels, noting with a small touch of pride in Jesus the depth of the message he has preached far and wide: The text of the messages I preached: Those who were never told of Him, they’ll see Him. Those who’ve never heard of Him, they’ll get the message. (v21, MSG). Again, he’s quoting Isaiah (Chapter 52) and it’s a quote that even Jesus uses often: “To him who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

So, are you listening? Am I listening? Sh’ma! Hear! Listen. Act. Obey. Mature.

That’s the whole point, isn’t it? I believe the reason for living is all about seeing, knowing, and experiencing God. 




(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.
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Isaiah 33. Blessings Follow Obedience.

Posted on by richlyspeaking

The Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 33.

There is doom again in today’s chapter. But this time it is reserved for the Destroyer, likely Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.

Look at those, however, who will speak to God in this humble and honoring way: “You are the foundation on which we stand today. You always save us and give true wisdom and knowledge. Nothing means more to us than obeying you.” (v6, CEV).

You. Always save. True wisdom. Obeying you.

Nothing means more than obeying God. We want to obey, right? May His Holy Spirit lead us and give us the strength to do so. May we hear and obey His still quiet voice and His promptings deep within our souls.

I believe as we obey, we are assured His blessings.

“But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes.  They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.” (v15-16, CEV).

Later: “The Lord is our judge and our ruler; the Lord is our king and will keep us safe.  The Lord will forgive your sins, and none of you will say, “I feel sick.”” (v22, 24, CEV).

He will provide! He has forgiven us through the grace of Jesus. Paul says often in the New Testament “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” What does this mean? Our pastor recently said it means something like this: “Everything that God is like be upon you.” God is Love.  So let love be upon you. God is Joy. So let joy be upon you. Peace. Comfort. Care. Protection. Health. Wellness. Everything that is God. Let every amazing and divine thing that is, be upon you. This is the culture of the Kingdom of God.

I love that as we read the Old Testament it points to Jesus! He forgives. He gives grace. We follow. We trust. We obey. We have life! We have His life and every spiritual blessing that goes with it.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3, NIV).

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.