Today we begin the book of Romans. We are only going to be spending two days in this great book, so let me give you a quick overview.

Paul spends the first 2 chapters showing humanity’s need for forgiveness. The next 6 chapters deal with how God gives that forgiveness to all people through faith in Jesus. Chapters 9-11 deal with what that message of forgiveness means to the Jewish people. And chapters 12 through the end deal with what our lives look like as people who have received that forgiveness.

Today we read chapters 1-8 and I will focus my attention on Romans 1, particularly verse 12. Paul expresses a desire to come to Rome. One of the reasons he wants to come, he states in this way:

“that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

That is what ministry to other Christians is all about. My faith is to be used by God to encourage your faith and vice versa. And that happens when we let faith have its way. Too often though we don’t let faith have its way. Instead we let the devil have his way. Those are the time when rather than our faith encouraging someone else’s faith, our anger encourages someone else’s anger; or our frustration encourages someone else’s frustration; or our sin hurts someone else’s faith. That is not the way of faith.

Faith encourages faith. Faith builds, grows, strengthens and edifies faith.

What Biblical truths does God show us in these verses?
One Christian’s faith can be used to encourage another Christian’s faith.


Since God tells us in the book of James to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers, how can I apply these Biblical truths to my life?
Today, I will look for opportunities to let my faith be used by God to encourage someone else’s faith.

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