God's Holy Fire: 'Special Messenger'

Sunday, June 22, 2025

[Paul wrote,] For by God's grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.
— Romans 15:15b-17 NLT

Key Thought

There are moments when we recognize that we are in the center of God's will, doing what he would have us do, exactly when and where he wants us to do it. Paul is at that place when he writes today's passage. However, underneath his confidence in what he is doing is an even greater confidence - confidence that the Holy Spirit will take his offering of people and make it holy and acceptable to God. As we live our lives and as our lives interact with and influence other people, let's pray that the Holy Spirit will make our entire lives holy and acceptable offerings to God. Let's also pray that we can live in such a way that our words, actions, and influence invite others to come to Jesus!

Today's Prayer

O Father God, thank you for the influence you have given me. Please forgive me for the times I have squandered that influence or used it wrongly. Jesus, help me as I seek to lead people ever closer to you. O Holy Spirit, please present my efforts and the people I influence as holy and acceptable offerings to God. I ask all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Whole and Holy
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in..."
A Channel for Your Word
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, I pray that I may be full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct others who want to know about your salvation...."
Beyond the Bucket List
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved, Let me ask you several questions to get you started thinking about today's verses from Paul's letter to the Romans:What makes you..."
Paul's Reasons for the Road
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved Disciple, Paul had many reasons to be on the road. He traveled extensively all over the regions bordering the northern and eastern..."

Illustration

Illustration of Romans 15:15b-17 NLT — So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, June 22, 2025

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Lamentations 3:24
"It is not "The Lord is partly my portion," nor "The Lord is in my portion"; but he himself makes up the sum total of my soul's inheritance. Within the..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Matthew 5:44-45
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Always Be Ready' (Mt. 25:1-13)
"[Talking about his return, Jesus continued:] "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations