In Romans 1:1, Paul reminds us what it means to be set apart for the gospel — living fully surrendered to Christ and committed to sharing the good news with others. Laura Bailey reflects on Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle and challenges us to examine our own willingness to share the gospel, even when it feels uncomfortable. Like Paul, we are called to let our lives reflect God’s grace and boldly carry the message of salvation to those who need to hear it.

✨ Highlights


What Romans 1:1 teaches about living a life set apart for Christ


Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle and its powerful testimony


Why sharing the gospel message requires faith, courage, and obedience


How our stories can point others to God’s grace and salvation


A reminder that we’re responsible for sharing the message, not controlling the response

💬 Join the Conversation

Who in your life might need to hear the gospel message today? Has God been nudging you to start that conversation or send that note? Share your experience and encourage others by tagging @LifeAudioNetwork and using #SetApartForTheGospel.

🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts:Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

Set Apart for the Gospel

By: Laura Bailey 

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—”
Romans 1:1 NIV

I love getting mail, don’t you? Who doesn’t enjoy receiving a letter from a friend or family member, especially one filled with encouragement, love, and words of affirmation? Better known as “snail mail,” letters are considered an outdated form of communication by most. 

Now, we converse through 280-word text limits and a series of emojis. A champion for the written word, I still pen letters, dotting my “i’s” with a heart, underlining important words, and using way too many exclamation marks!  I am convinced that holding a handwritten letter from a loved one is one of the best feelings in the world.

 It’s an instant morale booster, and often, the sender’s words feel like they were delivered straight from the Lord. They were just what my heart needed to hear. Letters remind the recipient that someone cared enough about them to write a message they needed to hear.  And that’s precisely the heart behind Paul’s letter to the new believers in the church of Rome, encouraging them in their faith.

Romans is a letter to early Christians in Rome, following the historical custom of greeting, identification of the author, identification of the recipient, and the reason for writing. Paul shares that he is a servant, or slave, to the gospel. In the original Greek text, the word "servant" implies someone who sold themselves into servanthood for some time. By describing himself in this way, Paul is telling his audience that he doesn’t consider his life his own—Christ owns him.  And for what purpose? To share the gospel message! Paul has given up everything to fully commit his life to sharing the gospel and encouraging other believers. 

Why was it so important for Paul to list out his qualifications? We read in Acts 9 that Paul, formerly called Saul, was the chief persecutor of Christians. While on the road to Damascus, the Lord called him to repent and then go and share the gospel with the Gentiles. Paul’s life was a living testimony to the power of the gospel to change lives.



 Paul was the perfect person to share the message of salvation and how God uses our stories for His glory. Paul was persecuting and killing the very people he was now ministering to and encouraging in their faith. These people were a little wary of this man, and rightly so. Paul understood his words could be received with some apprehension, so he explained to the Romans how his life had been changed, not because of what he had done but because of what Christ had done and was continuing to do in his life. In faithful obedience, Paul made it his mission to share the good news with everyone everywhere (Romans 1:5). 

And that’s what the book of Romans is all about: sharing the good news of the Gospel for both salvation and encouragement. Paul will spend the rest of his letter presenting the message of the gospel and explaining why it is essential, not just for salvation, but for every day of believers' lives. The compassion and concern that Paul has for this early church is palpable; he has made it his life’s mission to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge of God’s Word. He understands the sense of urgency; souls are at stake, there is no time to waste, and every day is an opportunity to share that God loves them and has made a way for them to be saved from eternal damnation.

When I was in seminary, one of our assignments was to write a letter to someone whom we knew was not saved. The person I knew God wanted me to reach out to was a dear friend; yet, I procrastinated, almost forgoing the assignment altogether. I was so worried that she would be offended or wouldn’t speak to me again, which would cause a significant rift in our relationship. I deeply loved her friendship and cared about the state of her soul, yet I struggled to send the letter. Guilt-ridden, I shared my reluctance with my pastor, to which he assured me, I am not the only person who has felt apprehension in sharing the gospel with friends and loved ones. 

As I reflect on these words from Paul, it wasn’t always easy for him to share the gospel, but he cared more about people’s eternal state than his comfort. I eventually sent the letter, but she never responded, and that was okay. Like Paul, I wasn’t responsible for her response to the gospel; only God can convict and open hearts to receiving His truth. However, we can be His servant, as we set ourselves apart for the gospel.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Is there someone today who needs to hear the gospel message? Ask God to help you discern the best way to share the good news with them. 

For Further Reading:

Romans 1:16

Romans 10:14

In Romans 1:1, Paul reminds us what it means to be set apart for the gospel &mdash; living fully surrendered to Christ and committed to sharing the good news with others. Laura Bailey reflects on Paul&rsquo;s transformation from persecutor to apostle and challenges us to examine our own willingness to share the gospel, even when it feels uncomfortable. Like Paul, we are called to let our lives reflect God&rsquo;s grace and boldly carry the message of salvation to those who need to hear it.
<hr data-start="770" data-end="773">
✨ Highlights
<ul data-start="795" data-end="1183">
<li data-start="795" data-end="867">
What Romans 1:1 teaches about living a life set apart for Christ
</li>
<li data-start="868" data-end="947">
Paul&rsquo;s transformation from persecutor to apostle and its powerful testimony
</li>
<li data-start="948" data-end="1025">
Why sharing the gospel message requires faith, courage, and obedience
</li>
<li data-start="1026" data-end="1091">
How our stories can point others to God&rsquo;s grace and salvation
</li>
<li data-start="1092" data-end="1183">
A reminder that we&rsquo;re responsible for sharing the message, not controlling the response
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1185" data-end="1188">
💬 Join the Conversation
Who in your life might need to hear the gospel message today? Has God been nudging you to start that conversation or send that note? Share your experience and encourage others by tagging @LifeAudioNetwork and using #SetApartForTheGospel.
🎙🎶&nbsp;SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">Your Nightly Prayer</a>
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Set Apart for the Gospel
By: Laura Bailey&nbsp;
&ldquo;Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God&mdash;&rdquo; Romans 1:1 NIV
I love getting mail, don&rsquo;t you? Who doesn&rsquo;t enjoy receiving a letter from a friend or family member, especially one filled with encouragement, love, and words of affirmation? Better known as &ldquo;snail mail,&rdquo; letters are considered an outdated form of communication by most.&nbsp;
Now, we converse through 280-word text limits and a series of emojis. A champion for the written word, I still pen letters, dotting my &ldquo;i&rsquo;s&rdquo; with a heart, underlining important words, and using way too many exclamation marks!&nbsp; I am convinced that holding a handwritten letter from a loved one is one of the best feelings in the world.
&nbsp;It&rsquo;s an instant morale booster, and often, the sender&rsquo;s words feel like they were delivered straight from the Lord. They were just what my heart needed to hear. Letters remind the recipient that someone cared enough about them to write a message they needed to hear.&nbsp; And that&rsquo;s precisely the heart behind Paul&rsquo;s letter to the new believers in the church of Rome, encouraging them in their faith.
Romans is a letter to early Christians in Rome, following the historical custom of greeting, identification of the author, identification of the recipient, and the reason for writing. Paul shares that he is a servant, or slave, to the gospel. In the original Greek text, the word "servant" implies someone who sold themselves into servanthood for some time. By describing himself in this way, Paul is telling his audience that he doesn&rsquo;t consider his life his own&mdash;Christ owns him.&nbsp; And for what purpose? To share the gospel message! Paul has given up everything to fully commit his life to sharing the gospel and encouraging other believers.&nbsp;
Why was it so important for Paul to list out his qualifications? We read in Acts 9 that Paul, formerly called Saul, was the chief persecutor of Christians. While on the road to Damascus, the Lord called him to repent and then go and share the gospel with the Gentiles. Paul&rsquo;s life was a living testimony to the power of the gospel to change lives. 
&nbsp;Paul was the perfect person to share the message of salvation and how God uses our stories for His glory. Paul was persecuting and killing the very people he was now ministering to and encouraging in their faith. These people were a little wary of this man, and rightly so. Paul understood his words could be received with some apprehension, so he explained to the Romans how his life had been changed, not because of what he had done but because of what Christ had done and was continuing to do in his life. In faithful obedience, Paul made it his mission to share the good news with everyone everywhere (Romans 1:5).&nbsp;
And that&rsquo;s what the book of Romans is all about: sharing the good news of the Gospel for both salvation and encouragement. Paul will spend the rest of his letter presenting the message of the gospel and explaining why it is essential, not just for salvation, but for every day of believers' lives. The compassion and concern that Paul has for this early church is palpable; he has made it his life&rsquo;s mission to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge of God&rsquo;s Word. He understands the sense of urgency; souls are at stake, there is no time to waste, and every day is an opportunity to share that God loves them and has made a way for them to be saved from eternal damnation.
When I was in seminary, one of our assignments was to write a letter to someone whom we knew was not saved. The person I knew God wanted me to reach out to was a dear friend; yet, I procrastinated, almost forgoing the assignment altogether. I was so worried that she would be offended or wouldn&rsquo;t speak to me again, which would cause a significant rift in our relationship. I deeply loved her friendship and cared about the state of her soul, yet I struggled to send the letter. Guilt-ridden, I shared my reluctance with my pastor, to which he assured me, I am not the only person who has felt apprehension in sharing the gospel with friends and loved ones.&nbsp;
As I reflect on these words from Paul, it wasn&rsquo;t always easy for him to share the gospel, but he cared more about people&rsquo;s eternal state than his comfort. I eventually sent the letter, but she never responded, and that was okay. Like Paul, I wasn&rsquo;t responsible for her response to the gospel; only God can convict and open hearts to receiving His truth. However, we can be His servant, as we set ourselves apart for the gospel.
Intersecting Faith and Life: Is there someone today who needs to hear the gospel message? Ask God to help you discern the best way to share the good news with them.&nbsp;
For Further Reading: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201%3A16&amp;version=NIV">Romans 1:16</a>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Romans%2010%3A14">Romans 10:14</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

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