"...How Constantly I Remember You..."

Apostle Paul wrote a comprehensive letter to the Christ followers in Rome as he wintered in Corinth on his third missionary journey. Paul was in hopes of going to Rome after returning to Jerusalem, but the Holy Spirit had warned him what might be ahead for him there.

According to Acts 21:10-11, a prophet named Agabus visited Paul that winter and, "he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' "

With that in mind, he was not sure if he would ever make it to Rome, so he was inclusive in writing to them about what he had been preaching.

In his introduction to the Romans, Paul wrote, "...how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times..." Romans 1:9-10 (NIV). "How constantly" is how it is written in the New International Version. King James says "that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers." The New Living Translation says, "Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God."

Whatever version you want to go with, you can see Paul prayed regularly for these people unknown to him. It is believed that the church in Rome was set up by Christians who went to Rome and it wasn't begun by Saint Paul or Saint Peter. Isn't it amazing how well the church of Rome grew without one of these heavy-hitters founding it.

Paul lifting up the Roman Christians to God "day and night" "constantly" "without ceasing" was a key to how they prospered so well. Imagine how your own church would grow if you prayed for it to God in your prayers "constantly".

Rick Hawbaker

'Serving A Living God'

(The above photo was taken in Denver at the Downtown Aquarium.)