Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Scripture Insights
I love visiting Rome. Besides eating my weight in pasta and gelato, I love to see the many sites, like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, that still serve as reminders of the splendor of ancient Rome. Everything in Rome served as a reminder that Caesar was the lord and ruler of the world’s most powerful empire.
In the ancient world, the word “gospel” meant an announcement that a ruler had conquered an enemy, reestablishing peace. This proclamation of peace was indeed always good news.
Paul too has good news to proclaim: the crucified and risen Jesus Christ is the ruler of the world! He is not just a messianic figure for the Jewish people but is now Lord of all creation. To stand in the most powerful city in the world and declare a carpenter from Nazareth to be the world’s king seems utterly foolish.
Yet Paul can proclaim that he is not ashamed to proclaim this good news.
Jesus is our peace. He alone, and not any of the other rulers throughout history, is the world’s one Lord.
Today’s Prayer
Almighty God, it still seems foolish in a world that is obsessed with power and wealth to declare that you alone are Lord of all. Give us the courage to proclaim in every city and to every person the good news that Jesus is Lord.
—Scott Daniels
General Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene
