Good morning. Today we begin the book of Romans. He has not been to Rome yet. My Bible says that there is a verse near the end which talks about the collections that he was going to take to Jerusalem, which is the occasion near the end of Acts which got him into trouble. Paul basically introduces himself at the beginning and gives his qualifications for writing. He says that he was a bond servant of Christ Jesus. My Bible says that this is different from being a hired hand. He completely belonged to his owner, Jesus. Called as an apostle. There are too many people who are designated by others or even by themselves as apostles. The true ones, like Paul, are designated by God as apostles. Set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures. God did not make up everything as He went along. He had everything completely planned out and revealed it through hints to His prophets in the Old Testament. Concerning His Son who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh. David had to be an ancestor of the Messiah. Of course Jesus was not actually the son of Joseph, who was a descendant of David, though legally He was. The Gospel has always been about Jesus. Father thank You that You planned Your work, and worked Your plan. (sounds like an Amway commercial). Help us to determine Your plan for our lives and to follow that plan without fail.

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