“But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul’s plans were elaborate, detailed, and worked out to the last minute…or so he thought. First, Jerusalem…to deliver a money gift from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the church in Jerusalem…to show their love and solidarity in a time of trial. 

Paul interrupted the declaration of his plans with an explanation that shows how connected the churches were, even across many miles in the Roman Empire. There was no such thing as denominational differences, separating God’s people from one another by walls of theological interpretations. The church across the empire was one body, functioning in small cells but aware of and caring for one another in a hostile world. 

Some of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia had collected money, poor as they themselves were, to help the believers in Jerusalem during a time of famine. Paul gives details,in his second letter to the Corinthians. 

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Such was their concern that they entrusted their gift to Paul…and it would take Paul many weeks of travel to deliver their gift. This interruption formed part of his travel plans. 

Why was this important to Paul? The gift came from Gentile believers who owed their Jewish brothers and sisters a debt of gratitude. 

“Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.” 

Nothing was taken for granted. They were one body. When one part suffered, they all suffered. They were aware of each others’ needs and did something about it despite their limited resources and the distance separating them. 

How different from the fragmented church in our world today! We can send money across the globe at the click of a button. We can gather and send information faster than we can blink. And yet…we huddle together to protect our theological integrity as though we have no link to the rest of the body of the Lord Jesus. We only fellowship with like-minded people and treat other groups as strangers and foreigners. 

What is the answer? I don’t know? 

We have access to the throne of God through prayer…and Paul’s encouragement to pray for all believers everywhere should spur us on. 

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Perhaps this is the place to start…Using our access to information and prayer…the most powerful gift we have from God…we can join with Him and entreat Him to unify and purify His church as we prepare for Jesus’ return. 

Will Jesus’ prayer be answered?

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes! Our unity is determined, not by the peripheral things that divide us, but by the one unifying confession…and the life that flows from it…

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved….Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even in the record of Paul’s plans, we glean truths that help us to navigate our lives as the body of Christ. We are one world-wide family…joined together by our confession of Jesus as Lord…united by prayer and participation, as and when we can. We are witnesses to the world by our love and unity, preparing for our Lord‘s return by our obedience to His command to love one another and to be faithful to Him. 

This is simple but not easy but… we have His Spirit and His grace to carry us through to our destination and goal. 

To be continued