“ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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...” -Romans 1:7-13
Thousands of years ago, this letter was written to you. By calloused and weary hands, were these words composed and scattered about wrinkled pages, written with black ink by the dancing light of a candle’s flame. And there he sat alone, the man that wrote them, his rugged features beaming with anticipation, while the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile of expectancy, as blameless tears fell from his tired eyes. Tears for you, Italy. Because he loved you. Because you were lost. And as he wrote with the eloquence of a humbled and broken man, he prayed for mercy to be showered down upon you. He prayed for grace in abundance, to be richly lavished on your people, that you might live. Do you know he pleaded for your salvation? Do you understand now, the torment that dwelt in his own heart? For so long were you estranged.
And so he continued to write, and remembered you always in his prayers, prayers of which came from all places. From his home. From empty streets. From prison cells. From the darkest of forests. From the shifting crowds along village roads. He prayed, and he did not forget you. He came to you, and gave himself entirely, for his heart was overcome with love for you. He served you, and by doing so, he served the Lord. May you not forget, Italy, the blessing of this brother.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 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...” -Romans 1:7-13
~*~
Dear Italy,
Thousands of years ago, this letter was written to you. By calloused and weary hands, were these words composed and scattered about wrinkled pages, written with black ink by the dancing light of a candle’s flame. And there he sat alone, the man that wrote them, his rugged features beaming with anticipation, while the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile of expectancy, as blameless tears fell from his tired eyes. Tears for you, Italy. Because he loved you. Because you were lost. And as he wrote with the eloquence of a humbled and broken man, he prayed for mercy to be showered down upon you. He prayed for grace in abundance, to be richly lavished on your people, that you might live. Do you know he pleaded for your salvation? Do you understand now, the torment that dwelt in his own heart? For so long were you estranged.
And so he continued to write, and remembered you always in his prayers, prayers of which came from all places. From his home. From empty streets. From prison cells. From the darkest of forests. From the shifting crowds along village roads. He prayed, and he did not forget you. He came to you, and gave himself entirely, for his heart was overcome with love for you. He served you, and by doing so, he served the Lord. May you not forget, Italy, the blessing of this brother.
postato da Amanda | 7:57 PM
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