First, indeed, I thank my God through Jesus Christ on account of all of you, because your faith is announced in the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I religiously serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son, as I make unceasing mention concerning all of you, always supplicating upon the basis of my worship, if somehow by now at some time I will have a prosperous journey by the desirous will of God to come towards all of you. For I long to see all of you in order that I should share some spiritual gracious gift with all of you for the purpose of establishing you. And this is, to be together encouraged with all of you through your faith among one another; and also my [faith] (Romans 1:8–12).
When Paul wrote his letter to the saints in Rome, he had not yet visited Rome. In the opening statements, he expresses his strong desire to come to them to share in fellowship and establish them in the faith.
Having heard of their faith, Paul continually remembers them in his worship to God, supplicating that he might come to them. Worship is giving God credit for what He has done and who He is. Although worship can involve singing, it is done when we are expressing a proper opinion of Who God is; therefore, it is a mental process by which we give God the full weight of His glory (Revelation 4:10–11). In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul encourages us to worship without ceasing, so that throughout our day we are continually reminded of who God truly is.
Paul adds to his worship supplication. Supplication is a cry for help. He strongly desires to go to the saints in Rome to ensure they are established in the faith. This impartation of a spiritual gracious gift is not giving them additional positions and abilities, but the fellowship and encouragement of their faith. When we are together, we share in a logical, rational manner, which is the partaking together of the spiritual gracious gift of fellowship.
We see the importance Paul gives to personal fellowship among the saints. In Hebrews 10:22, Paul encourages Christians not to forsake the assembling together, for in it we are able to exhort one another unto good works as the day approaches. The purpose of the local assembly is for the edification of the saints to bring them unto a oneness of the faith, unto a full experiential knowledge of the Son of God, so that they mature and are no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men (Ephesians 4:11-14). Therefore, let us make spending time with the saints a high priority in our lives so that we all grow together in our faith.