Surrender

Romans1:10

Koine Greek is such a precise language! So exact and orderly is the language that it is no surprise God chose it to reveal the gospel to man. It is a language based on verbs, where word order is according to importance. This is the word order of the Greek:

“petitioning always upon the prayers of me, if perhaps, now at last, I will be prospered to come, in the will of the God, to you.”

Petitioning (deomenos) is a present middle participle, coming off of the word “I make “(mention of you ), from verse 9. Coming from the root word, deo, “to bind”, deomenos means “, to make a specific petition, to request”. So Paul isn't just tossing up a general blessing for a group of people he doesn’t interact with, or even know. His petitions are specific, detailed. I hate it when speakers or pastors say, ” I pray for every one of you!”, to a congregation. I don’t believe them. This critical spirit exposes to you that I lack love (I do not believe the best). I have been so disillusioned by lofty men on pedestals- falling. Also, growing up as a pastor’s kid, no one will ever come close to my father’s excellent example to me. So sadly, they all have one strike against them before getting up to the plate. But I want to be like Paul, thinking and making supplication to God for those I know intimately, and those I have only heard about. And not just a sentence prayer, but really putting myself in their situation and praying circumspectly for them.

Always. This adverb pantoteh is an extreme description coming from tas the adjective “all or every”, joined with the particle hoteh meaning “whenever, when or while”. Putting them together as an adverb reads, “at all times”

Then comes the prepositional phrase, “upon the prayers of me”. Paul is saying, at the occasion of my prayers, I always remember you specifically. My prayers for you are not general. I pray that God’s will be done in your life and that everyday you become more and more like Him.

If perhaps is a conjunction that expresses submission. Paul’s desire is to go to them, but he is first looking to God to see if this is God’s desire for him. Paul will go, if God so allows.

Now at last. This shows an eagerness to get there. But restrained by the ever-prevailing will of God in His life. The literal translation for this would be, “that now at last somehow it might happen…” I want every little thought and desire of mine to be constrained by such a submission-such a willingness of laying aside hopes and dreams and desires, if they are not God’s will for my life. I know there have been big moments in my life where I have done this. They are my memorial stones. Yet, what of the daily surrenders, the instinctive decision-making pauses of surrender and seeking the face of the Lord in the little things?