“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…”
– Romans 16:25
The book of Romans doesn’t end with a whisper—it ends with worship. After unfolding the most sweeping explanation of the gospel ever written, Paul lifts his voice in a doxology, a declaration of glory to God. “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel…” (Romans 16:25, NKJV). This isn’t a footnote—it’s a crescendo. Paul wants us to know that the gospel is not just information to understand; it is power that strengthens, stabilizes, and establishes the people of God. Just as God said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you” (Ezekiel 2:1, NKJV), the gospel enables us to stand upright when life tries to knock us down.
History gives us a picture of this kind of strength. During the Spanish Civil War, a small garrison was surrounded by enemy forces. Some soldiers wanted to surrender to save their lives, but others refused. One man stood and declared, “It is better to die upon our feet than to live upon our knees.” That is the spirit of the gospel. Life is hard. Temptation is real. Pressure is constant. But the gospel gives us a backbone. It solidifies our faith. It empowers us to stand when the world shakes beneath us. The gospel doesn’t just inform the mind—it fortifies the soul.
Paul ends Romans with praise because he knows the gospel is not merely a message to believe—it is a power to live by. It is God’s strength poured into weak people. It is God’s truth anchoring unsteady hearts. It is God’s grace enabling us to stand when everything else tells us to fall. And so Paul worships. He celebrates. He ends with a doxology because the gospel is worthy of a song.
Stand in the strength of the gospel today. When fear rises, stand. When temptation whispers, stand. When life shakes, stand. Let the gospel establish your heart, steady your steps, and strengthen your faith. And like Paul, let truth lead you into worship—because the God who saved you is the God who makes you stand.
“The Word of God does more than inform us—it transforms us and enables us to stand firm.”
— Warren Wiersbe
surrendered devotions 