Romans 1:8-10

"(8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. (9) God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you (10) in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you."

I find it really interesting in verse 8 that Paul says the faith of the Christians in Rome is being reported all over the world. I guess I think of Rome as being full of sin and find it sort of surprising that the Christians there were setting such a good example that their faith is being spread all over the world. Of course that's what Rome needed - Christians that were actually living their faith so that they might show the world their faith. And isn't that what we need? What if all the Christians in America lived their faith? I think that it would be hard, but it would look truely amazing!

I like verses 9 and 10 because Paul sets an excellent example of how to pray - constantly and at all times. Paul says that he is praying that God will open the way for him to go to Rome. God does answer that prayer...but not in the way he expects. He ends up going to Rome as a prisoner, which is an excellent reminder that we shouldn't expect answers to our prayers to look like what we invision.

LIVE YOUR FAITH AND PRAY!!