Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Romans 16:25-27 (NIV)
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Obedience to the will of Jesus does not earn us salvation and a place in God’s kingdom. In his letter to the Christians of Rome, Paul writes that God makes us righteous by faith (Rom. 1:17) that only comes by hearing the good news about Jesus (Rom. 10:17). So what is the “obedience that comes from faith”? It starts with prayer. Theologian Henri Nouwen likens prayer to the opening of tightly clenched fists that are holding on to a coin out of fear. In prayer, we begin to give everything we have, even that last little coin to God in hope that God really does love and care for us. As you pray, God might not give you clear answers to all your problems, but through faith in the immense love of God try to obey by opening your hands a little more to give Him all that you might still be holding onto.