22My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 23Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.
25-26I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people. 27This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. 28After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.
30My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.
My daughter, Mali Beth, constantly asks me when I'm coming out to see the grandchildren. I hope she really means "coming out to see me!" I love her and miss her, but my work always seems to get in the way.
It's not a good excuse, but a common one. Even Paul found he couldn't always do what he wanted to do because he was busy doing what God had called him to do. He says "my work has always kept me from coming to see you". Well, now he was finished with his work and he was making plans to go to Rome...on his way to Spain. OK, there's always more to do!
It's not in my nature to second-guess Paul. But, I'm not Paul. I need to cultivate relationships around me because they revitalize me. Paul understood it. He said "after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on". We can see our friends as fuel for our passion to serve Christ. We don't have to see them as obstacles to ministry.
By the way...I'm going to Pittsburgh next week...
Live boldly out there today...
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