Romans 1:1-4, 14-17

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel
of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy
Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of
David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in
power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
 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.
 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings
salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in
the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith
from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Meditation
1. Martin Luther and John Wesley, two of church history’s towering figures,
came to Christ through Romans 1:17.  Through this verse each realized
that God’s righteousness is obtained by faith, not by human effort or merit.
Through their influence millions have claimed God’s righteousness, and made
it their own “by faith from first to last.”
2. How did God call me to Christ?  How has God’s call changed my goals?
My sense of obligation to others?  To what mission or task do I sense God
nudging me?  How is that reflected in my prayers?  My actions?

Personal Notes:
God call me to Christ through His love and grace.  Before I was called to Christ, I was living for my own selfish ways and pleasures.  With God's call, my goals changed from building up my own kingdom by making lots of money, desiring to be popular and respected to partnering with God in His work in furthering God's kingdom by being a faithful steward of what he has given me.  In the past, I don't feel I am obligated to anyone who does not help make me happy, now I am willing obligate myself to others for the sake of witnessing for Christ.

God is asking me to focus and be faithful in making disciples by growing as a faithful disciple personally.  From there, I trust that God would guide me in motivating others to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ.
Since it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, I am to pray and continue to rely on God's guidance and grace as a spiritual leader.