Romans 15:30-33 (ESV)
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Strive Together in Prayer
When it comes to striving, we don’t can think of a number of areas. Couples often strive with each other. Churches strive against each other, at times. Employees often strive against employers. Citizens, can, at times, strive against their own government. All these are examples of strive “against” each other. However, we don’t often think of the concept to “strive together” for something. Paul, in the above verses is asking the Roman church “strive together” in prayer so that, in the future, he might be able to come to them in Rome and be refreshed by their fellowship.
We don’t think of “praying” as an aspect of “striving.” Yet, there are several passages in the Bible that give us some insight into Paul’s mindset. Jesus instructed the disciples to be diligent in prayer:
Luke 21:34-36 (ESV)
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
When Jesus went into the garden, prior to His crucifixion, he instructed His disciples to strive in prayer:
Mark 14:38 (ESV)
38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
At the end of Paul’s list of the armor of the God, he added prayer as the final piece:
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
John McArthur has this to say about the Greek word for “strive” in our verse:
Sunagōnizomai (to strive together) is an intensified form of agōnizomai, which means to struggle or fight and is the term from which we get the English “agonize.” The word was originally used of athletic events, especially gymnastics, in which contestants, such as wrestlers or boxers, struggled against each other. Jesus used the word when He told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting [agōnizomai]” (John 18:36).
We are to strive together in prayer. This is not supposed to be single effort. Our joint prayers are powerful and our joint striving is necessary to see God’s work done in our lives. Paul was, perhaps, one of the most godly men in the New Testament. But, he felt it necessary to enjoin others in his prayer life for God’s movement in his life to bring him to Rome. We ought to make similar requests of each other to ensure God’s work in our lives.
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