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For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Doing God\u2019s will often means not doing what we want to do.<\/p>\n \u201cFor this reason<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word dio<\/em><\/span>. This is made up of a form of dia<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfor\u201d or \u201cthrough\u201d and the relative pronoun hos,<\/span><\/em> meaning \u201cwhich.\u201d So, literally, the word dio<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cthrough <\/em>which,\u201d or \u201cbecause <\/em>of <\/em>this.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201chindered<\/span>\u201d is translated from the verb engkopt\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of en<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cin\u201d and kopt\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto cut.\u201d So, literally this word means \u201cto cut into.\u201d Figuratively, however, it means \u201cto impede\u201d or \u201cto hinder.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMuch<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek words ta polla<\/em><\/span>, which literally means \u201cmany things.\u201d From this we know that Paul was not saying \u201cthere was a strong hindrance,\u201d but \u201cthere were many hindrances.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul starts off this verse with \u201cFor this reason<\/span>.\u201d So, we have to ask ourselves, \u201cFor what reason?\u201d The answer is, \u201cbecause he was so focused on preaching the gospel where Christ had not been named.\u201d Because Paul was so intent on doing what God had called him to do, he was not able to do those things that he himself really wanted to do, like go to Rome to meet the Christians there.<\/p>\n As we will see in the next verse, Paul had a strong desire to travel to Rome, but because of the calling that he had from God he had thus far been prevented from traveling there. Instead, he had traveled throughout modern day Turkey and Greece, responding to God\u2019s leading. A dramatic example of his receiving direction from God occurs in Acts chapter sixteen:<\/p>\n Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. <\/span>(Acts 16:6-10<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Not only was Paul submitted to God\u2019s lordship over him, but he was also committed to doing what God called him to do. In fact, Paul was so compelled to follow God\u2019s calling for him that he said the following of himself in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth:<\/p>\n For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! <\/span>(1Corinthians 9:16<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n This is the kind of commitment to doing God\u2019s will instead of his own that enabled Paul to be so powerfully used of God<\/p>\n Do you want God to use you? Are you willing to do whatever He calls you to instead of what you want to do?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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