13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so           until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

We have been talking about purpose and plans to carry out our purpose. If the plans explain what one hopes to accomplish the purpose addresses the why question. Why do you do what you do, Paul? What is your purpose in your life? The chief motive for Paul’s ministry was the call of God on his life and his purpose was for the advancement and glory of God. His love for Jesus was his desire to use his gifts to share God’s love and grace with all people.

Paul also wanted to tell them his purpose was to preach. He wanted to have a harvest among them in Rome. He was a church planter. He loved to see people come to faith. He knew God had placed upon his heart to focus on the Gentile population. He was driven by that purpose for his life. That purpose guided what he did and didn't do.

Some plant, some water, and some sow. The seed has been planted in Rome. It wasn’t by him, but probably by those who were unnamed witnesses of Jesus when they left Pentecost and went to their own homes. Christianity is spread in the world by people who life has been changed by power of the Holy Spirit.

When the persecution came, the Christians in Jerusalem spread out. At that time, Paul was named Saul, participated in that persecution, so in a backhanded way - maybe he was responsible for the church growth movement as part of the persecutors. People left and went to others area carrying the truth of Jesus with them. God raised up a harvest among the Gentiles when he preached and taught in the capital of the world. His excitement was seeing that Rome could be used for the spread of the gospel. That missionary call was his purpose in life.

Paul knew God had gifted him in presenting the gospel and especially to the Gentiles. He was aware that the passion of his heart was to go and preach. He would state his life mission like this: "I exist (by the grace of God) to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles (or peoples) for the sake of the glory of the name of Christ."

What is your purpose for living? Is it to glorify God or yourself? Is it to build a wonderful retirement that you might live in luxury and enjoy the blessings of this earth or is it to store treasures in heaven that produce eternal rewards? Is your purpose for living for pleasures or for hardships if that is the path where God leads you to be a witness?

The purpose for which God calls us could be summed up by Paul saying, I desire to live my life in such a way as to love God with all of my heart, to love God with all of my soul, to love God with all of my mind and to love God with all of my strength. It is not to live life for my goals, but for His love. It is to follow the path that God wants - to do what is best for others and their eternity. It is not been to say what they want to hear. It is not been to build the largest churches or remain in the smallest church. It is not to produce edifices with cushioned chairs and latte coffee machines in nooks and crannies around; it may be in the jungles of Papua, New Guinea. It may be with malaria around me. It may be to proclaim God's love from a wheelchair and never walk again, like Dale Lundgren or Joni Ereackson Tada. It may be to serve my family well that they might know the glory of God.

For Paul, it was serving God with all his heart, imparting spiritual gifts to encourage others and with the gifts God has given to him to preach this wonderful gospel.

Prayer:  Father, help me to be like Paul, Serving you with all my heart, and thus importing spiritual gifts to encourage others.