Sometimes in our haste to open mail that comes to our house, we start reading mail and we find out the letter we are reading isn’t even addressed to us. As result, the content of the letter has no application to us and should be passed on to the appropriate person. As we come to the end of the salutation of Paul’s letter, he tells us that this letter is addressed to the Romans and now us. As this message was delivered on the 3rd Sunday in February, the question we asked the congregation is “Is this letter for you?”
As we put our messages on our website, in a way I feel like Paul, who was writing a sermon to people who desired to encourage and bless; but had never met. To those who will be journeying with us through the book of Romans, I pray that each person feels like God has moved on me to speak to you. I believe that as each person hears a message on Sunday morning or reads this message, it is not an accident.
The question we are asking this morning may sound like a strange question; however, for this letter and the collection of letters and communications that make up the Bible, each believer, reader and listener has to decide if God is trying to speak to them. We need to decide going in that whatever God has for me in this letter, please let my heart and my mind be opened to the planting, watering and increase that will come from the Word of God.
How does this question of “Is this letter for you?” apply to us today? The challenge of this message is if you are reading this letter or any letter from God, we must go in with the mindset that God has pre-ordained this message just for us. I must have the mindset of “I receive the contents of the letter and message from God through the servant He has chosen to deliver it.” I believe that many Christians, church goers and believers fail to recognize how God uses other people, in their lives, to deliver his messages to them. Many people discount or ignore the message that God is trying to deliver to them because of the source. Don’t get me wrong, source is definitely important; however, after the source has been verified the content must be accepted,” Is this letter for you?”
The question can be answered by the reader knowing that :
1. You are beloved by God – If you have accepted the Lord as your personal savior, you are beloved by God. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him would not perish; but have ever lasting life. (John 3:16) You are beloved by God because He has started a good work in you and He wants to finish it. (Philippians 1:6) When you know that you are loved by God, this letter is for you.
2. You have been designated as saints by God – We have been called and designated to be saints by God. Called to be holy because he is holy. (I Peter 1:15-16). We are not saints because we have everything right; however, because God has set us apart as He had set apart the believers in Rome. God seeks to use his chosen people for His purpose. When you realize that you are called to be saints by God, then this letter is for you?
3. You have the grace (favor) and peace of God on and in your life – Paul in his greeting to the Romans expressed his desire for God’s grace to be toward them. As we meet and greet one another, the one thing that we should desire for every person is God’s grace to be upon their lives. II Peter 3:18, says “but grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Paul over and over in his letters greeted and expressed his desire for God’s grace upon the recipients of his letters. In 1 Corinthians 1:3, he greets them in grace and peace and in verse 4 he thanked God, always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:2 again grace and peace. Galatians 1:3 again grace to you and peace. For us the grace and peace of God is two of the greatest blessings we could ask. When you know that you have the grace and peace of God upon you, then this letter is for you.
4. You have acknowledged God as your spiritual father – As a child of God, we accept Him as the role of father in our lives. We pray our Father which art in heaven. We sing “Father I stretch my hands to thee no other help I know.” As we look at God, we sing the fatherly characteristics that he exemplifies in our lives. When you acknowledge God as your father, then this letter is for you.
5. You acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life – The position of Jesus as Lord in one’s life is the greatest position that He can occupy. When we accept him as savior, we must also accept Him as Lord. When he is Lord, He leads. When he is Lord, we humbly submit ourselves before him. When he is Lord, we allow Him to have the final say on what we do and where we go. When we acknowledge Him as Lord, then this letter is for us.
As I prepare to close, listed below are some points of application each one of us should work on:
1. Let’s work on our relationship with God because He wants to have a relationship with us.
a. The foundation of relationship with God is love.
b. Our separation from the world is because of love.
2. Let’s work on our relationship with God because He offers us blessings that the world can’t give us.
a. The favor of God is the key to your future.
b. The peace of God helps you deal with your present.
3. Let’s work on our relationship with God because He is our Father and Lord.
a. Father knows best.
b. The Lord has to lead.
Finally, I leave you with this prayer. Lord, as each of us reads the letter of Romans let us be open to a movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let us embrace your words with hunger, desire and passion. Lord, I thank you for what you are going to do in our lives through the increase of your Word in our hearts. In Jesus name, AMEN!
