I must see Rome.
Paul is not a tourist hankering for a holiday. He’s a missionary homesick for the frontier. His third missionary journey is winding down. So what next? A sabbatical? A pastorate in one of his local churches? No and no.
Paul’s letter to the Romans, which was written about this time, reveals his pioneering spirit: But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you when I go to Spain (Romans 15:23-24 NRSV).
No further place in these regions? How can that be? There were still many unevangelised cities and unreached peoples in those regions. But Paul considered his work there complete.
Why? Because he expected the churches he founded to continue evangelising the East, while he broke new ground in the West.
Paul could have made a career of nurturing churches. No one did it better. But as an apostle, his highest priority was reaching the unreached. He would leave 99 sheep in the wild to seek and save one that is lost: Thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named (Romans 15:20).
Paul’s highest priority was reaching the unreached.
But first, Paul had unfinished business in Jerusalem. Early in his career, Peter, James and John encouraged him to remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). Paul didn’t need reminding.
Leading scholars agree and Paul’s letters confirm that during his last mission trip in Acts, he went round the churches he had planted, collecting alms for the poor in Jerusalem (Acts 20:25; 24:17-18; Romans 15:23-29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:3-5, 19; 9:1-2, 12).
The seven men listed in Acts 20:4 represent the Gentile churches from which Paul took up the collection. They go with Paul to Jerusalem now, not just to keep an eye on the money, which is wise, but also to demonstrate and preserve the unity of the Spirit between the Jewish and Gentile Church as fellow heirs and members of the same body (Ephesians 3:6).
This would put the finishing touch on Paul’s 10-plus years of apostolic work in the Eastern provinces: When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain (Romans 15:28).
God’s mission is holistic: saving souls and saving bodies; preaching Good News and doing good works; loving God and loving neighbour. Remember the poor. Remember the unreached.
Fast and pray
- Remember the poor. Remember the unreached. The world’s poorest of the poor are also the least reached peoples today. Where are they? Not far from us, actually. Most of them live in cities within a seven-hour flight radius from First World Singapore. The 10|40 Window stretches from Morocco in the west to Japan in the east. 69 nations in all. Home to 4.4 billion people. 40% have never heard the Gospel, not even once! Every major religion in the world has its roots right here. This is where Christians suffer the worst persecution. This is where children are “discipled” to terrorise the innocent in the name of religion. With eyes of faith, ask God for the humanly impossible: Abundant Gospel sowing. Divine visitations. Unprecedented turnings to Christ. Effective discipling. Church-planting movements. Community transformation. Human flourishing. Lord, pour out your Spirit on the 10|40 Window!
- Unreached peoples are unreached for a reason. They are hard, difficult and dangerous to reach. All the easy ones are taken (David Platt). Instead of just going to the same old easy places where churches are already planted and blooming, pray that we will pioneer new works among Asia’s unreached peoples. Today, offer to God Singapore’s best and brightest for a new era of Good News and good works in the 10|40 Window. Pray for divine favour. Ask for wisdom from above. Pray with godly imagination. Who knows? Through high-level Memorandums of Understanding, some may become nation-builders like Joseph and Daniel. Do you see a man skilful in his work? He will stand before kings (Proverbs 22:29). Call out pioneers with a new spirit of enterprise to mind our Father’s business: In healthcare and biomedical. In education and human resource training. In housing and urban planning. In media and communications. In trade and commerce. In law and governance, and so much more. Pray that in so doing, we will alleviate poverty, we will make disciples who make disciples. We will contribute to the unfinished business of world missions. Let God hear your passionate, visionary prayers today.
Read the devotional from Day 24: The great unknown here.
We are an independent, non-profit organisation that relies on the generosity of our readers, such as yourself, to continue serving the kingdom. Every dollar donated goes directly back into our editorial coverage.
Would you consider partnering with us in our kingdom work by supporting us financially, either as a one-off donation, or a recurring pledge?
Support Salt&Light
