Listen:
Romans 15:9-13
Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praises to your name.
And again, it says, Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people.
And again,
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and all the people should sing his praises.
And again, Isaiah says,
There will be a root of Jesse,
who will also rise to rule the Gentiles.
The Gentiles will place their hope in him.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Consider:
Just prior to these verses in Romans, Paul begins describing God’s hope for the world — what, in Paul’s estimation, is God’s purpose for us human beings in the world and will we ever get there? What are we supposed to do now that Jesus has come to earth and changed everything?
Paul’s writing is never simple or as clear as we would like it to be in order to construct whole theologies off its back, but there are themes which recur over and over again in his writing. There are two important reminders in these verses for us today: First, God’s ultimate desire for humanity is to restore unity to the broken peoples on earth, and it’s our jobs as believers to go and do the work to make that happen. Second, you will never be able to accomplish that goal on your own.
Seems contradictory doesn’t it? Go out and do this job which you will never complete knowing that the world in all its brokenness will actively work against it. Who could blame you for going back to bed and reading a book instead?
Hope is God-powered and so is reconciliation. If we can dream, as Martin Luther King, Jr did, of a time when people will be accepted for the who God sees them to be and not what the world tells them they are, that dream is made possible because of God’s act of mercy and compassion that night in Bethlehem.
We only lose hope and energy for these acts of kindness and togetherness when we think it’s entirely dependent on our energy and ability. The one who is coming is faithful and merciful. Jesus comes to restore unity to the broken people on earth. He just asks us to jump on the train with him — and what could fill us with more excitement and hope than that!
Respond:
The devotion reminds us that our job is to work for unity, but the success of that work depends on God’s power, not our own exhaustion. Try this three-step process to “jump on the train” without carrying the weight of the engine:
* Identify the Gap: Think of one relationship in your life where there is tension, distance, or a lack of unity. It could be a coworker, a family member, or a neighbor you disagree with.
* Shift the Burden: Before you do anything, take a moment to consciously release the outcome. Acknowledge that you cannot “fix” this person or fully heal the situation on your own. You can even whisper: “God, this is Your work. I’m just jumping on Your train.”
* Make One Small Move: Perform one small, low-stakes act of kindness or connection toward that person today.
* Send a text wishing them a good week.
* Offer a genuine compliment.
* Drop off a small treat or card.
* Simply offer a warm smile if you see them.
The Goal: Do not try to resolve the entire conflict or “save” the relationship today. Just make one gesture that says, “I see you, and I am for you,” and trust God to handle the rest.
Pray:
God,
I confess that I often try to be the engine instead of just the passenger. I feel the weight of this broken situation, and I am tired of thinking I have to fix it all in my own strength.
Right now, I am shifting the burden of the outcome back to You.
Restoring unity is Your purpose and Your power, not mine. I will take this one small step of kindness today, but I leave the results entirely in Your hands.
Thank You for carrying the load so I can just enjoy the ride with You.
Amen
