Read

Romans 1:15 “That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.”

Think

Paul didn’t just feel responsible to share the gospel. He was eager to do it. Hungry. Ready. Waiting for the chance to speak.

That word, “eager,” doesn’t describe someone reluctantly fulfilling a duty. It paints the picture of someone leaning forward. Someone on the edge of their seat. Paul wasn’t dragging his feet to get to Rome. He was sprinting in his spirit. Rome was the heart of the empire, the epicenter of culture and politics, and Paul wanted the gospel planted right in the middle of it.

This eagerness wasn’t rooted in hype. It was born from priority. Paul didn’t treat gospel conversations like something that might happen “if the opportunity comes up.” He was looking for the opportunity. Expecting it. He had made peace with the awkwardness and pushed through the fear, because something bigger was burning in him. He didn’t just want to talk about Jesus. He had to.

Most of us know what it’s like to feel eager. We’re eager to share good news—a new job, an engagement, a pregnancy, a goal we’ve crushed. We don’t keep those things quiet. We post them. We text people. We bring them up in conversation. We want others to know, because we’re filled with joy.

That’s the kind of eagerness Paul had for the gospel. It wasn’t just true. It was personal. And personal things don’t stay silent.

But if we’re honest, many of us feel the opposite when it comes to faith. We aren’t eager. We’re hesitant. We convince ourselves we’re waiting for the right moment, but deep down, we’re just uncomfortable. We don’t want to offend, get rejected, or say the wrong thing. So we wait. Not out of wisdom, but out of fear.

Paul’s boldness wasn’t about personality. It was about perspective. He remembered who he used to be. He knew what Jesus had saved him from. And that memory lit a fire in him. You don’t stay quiet when you’ve been set free. You speak up, not because you’ve rehearsed a script, but because you’ve been changed by grace.

Think of it like this. Imagine someone walking through the desert, dehydrated and dizzy, and you’re holding a glass of cold water. You don’t need to pressure them. You just need to offer it. Their thirst will do the rest. You can’t make them drink, but you can make sure they know it’s available.

The gospel works the same way. People may not even realize how thirsty they are until they see someone holding out living water. Our job isn’t to convert or convince. It’s to offer.

And that offering doesn’t always look like a dramatic speech. It often looks like a quiet question. A well-timed encouragement. A moment of spiritual honesty. Eagerness isn’t about volume. It’s about readiness. It’s living with your heart open and your eyes up, watching for where the Spirit is already moving.

Now think about how you behave in a blackout when you're holding a flashlight. You don’t shine it to show off. You shine it because others can’t see. The darker the world gets, the more essential the light becomes. That’s how Paul lived. That’s how we’re called to live. Not with pressure, but with purpose.

The people around you may be more open than they let on. They’re carrying burdens, sitting in shame, running on empty. What they need is someone who’s willing to step in, to speak with courage and compassion. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be available.

Eagerness grows when you stop looking at conversations as obligations and start seeing them as opportunities. The gospel is still good news. We just have to stop treating it like a footnote.

So what if we started asking God for open doors again? What if we expected spiritual moments in ordinary places? What if we lived like Paul—not ashamed, not unsure, but eager?

You’re not responsible for their response. But you are responsible for your obedience.

This isn’t pressure. It’s purpose. And it’s not about you being impressive. It’s about being available. If grace has truly changed you, it will eventually compel you. That’s what it means to live like Paul—obligated, not optional.

Apply

Write down the name of someone who’s been in your life for a while, but you’ve never really brought Jesus into the conversation with them. Ask God to soften your heart and open theirs. Then look for one opportunity this week to take a step—maybe it’s a question, an invitation, or a simple moment of spiritual honesty. The goal isn’t to finish the conversation. It’s to start it.

Pray

Jesus, I don’t want to treat your gospel like it’s optional. You’ve changed me. You’ve saved me. And I want to live like that matters—not just for me, but for the people around me. Help me see others the way you do. Remove my excuses and soften my heart. I’m not perfect, but I’m available. Give me the courage to speak, the wisdom to know when, and the love to reflect your heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.