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that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Following God\u2019s will is not always comfortable or easy but it will<\/strong> produce joy in our hearts.<\/p>\n \u201cWill<\/span>\u201d is translated from thel\u0113ma<\/em><\/span>, which is based on the verb thel\u014d<\/em> <\/span>meaning \u201cto will or wish.\u201d But it implies more than just a wish or a desire, it implies purpose and determination. There is another Greek word, boulomai<\/em><\/span>,<\/em> <\/em>which is also translated \u201cwill<\/span>.\u201d Thel\u014d<\/em> <\/span>refers to a person\u2019s determined will, whereas boulomai<\/em> <\/span>refers to a person\u2019s desirous will. It is like a child being sent into a candy store with a limited amount of money. His (or her) desirous will is to have everything in the store, but the child determines (decides) to purchase what can be acquired with the money he or she has; this is the child\u2019s determined will.<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201crefreshed<\/span>\u201d is an interesting word. It is the Greek word sunanapausomai<\/em><\/span>. This is a compound word made up of three parts. The Greek word sun<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cwith\u201d or \u201ctogether with.\u201d The middle part of this word is ana<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cagain,\u201d and the final part of the word is from the verb pau\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto cease or to give rest.\u201d Putting these all together we see that Paul wanted to be \u201crefreshed again together\u201d with the Christians in Rome.<\/p>\n Paul had another reason for wanting the Christians in Rome to pray for him, and he shares the reason in the current verse. He has already told them that he expected to go to Spain and to stop at Rome on the way. If his ministry to the Jews in Jerusalem was not successful, it would be a disappointment to him. If he could successfully deliver the gifts from the churches in Greece to the saints in Jerusalem, however, then it would be a joyous thing for Paul.<\/p>\n But he knew that he was bound by the will of God to go wherever God sent him. That\u2019s why Paul said, \u201cso that I may come to you with joy by the <\/span>(determined) will of God.<\/span>\u201d If God had other plans for Paul (and we know that he did), then Paul was willing to be part of those plans. He did eventually go to Rome, but it was not in the manner that he was expecting. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and remained imprisoned for three years before being sent to Rome to stand before Caesar.<\/p>\n That is not to say, however, that Paul did not go with joy. He was not surprised that he ended up in chains in Jerusalem, for that\u2019s exactly what had been revealed to him on numerous occasions. Paul certainly would rather have gone to Rome as a free man, but following God\u2019s will was more important to him and being God\u2019s bondservant was all the freedom that Paul needed. Because he knew that the imprisonment was God\u2019s doing, I\u2019m sure that it was with joy \u201cin the Lord\u201d that Paul eventually got to Rome.<\/p>\n Even though Paul had never actually met most of the people in the Church in Rome he felt a fellowship with them through the blood of Christ. And, when he did eventually get to Rome the saints there not only welcomed him with open arms but they provided for his needs while he was in prison there.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s all determine to make following God\u2019s will the full focus or our lives. If that means pain or sorrow, we can still have joy in our hearts knowing that we are serving the King of Kings.<\/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><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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