Romans Chapter 16: Verses 1-13 (NIV)
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconof the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding amongthe apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Matthew Chapter 25: verse 21
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Quite a list of verses today, but I really felt I couldn’t miss any of them out. Mostly they are a list of names, and a lot of those are difficult for English speakers to pronounce! Often, I have been guilty of skimming over such verses with which Paul closes his letters. But today I was reminded why I shouldn’t. The people that Paul commends to the Roman church are all fellow Christians who have all been a support and encouragement to him, and who have been faithful and obedient to God in difficult circumstances. And its also worth noting that many of them were women, doing leading roles within the church. Junia for example is a woman’s name. She has been put in prison for her faith and Paul describes her as outstanding amongst the Apostles!
What struck me today was that I may not remember their names and I don’t really know all that much about them and what they did. Yet they were commended by Paul for their work and for their witness for Christ. I know however that God saw all that they did and they will all have received a “well done, my good and faithful servant’ when they were called home. Their work may not have come to the same prominence as Paul and the other Apostles, but they made a difference to Paul, and I am certain also to those amongst whom they ministered. They were not seeking recognition or any glory for themselves. They sought only to be obedient to God and to glorify Him.
We too may not have any public or prominent role, and even if we do have some position of authority, we should not seek any recognition for ourselves. As Christians we too should work faithfully and obediently, provide encouragement to others, and stand firm in our faith when times are difficult. And it doesn’t go unnoticed. God sees it all. And when the time comes, the only thing we want to hear when we join Paul and his friends in heaven, is the same commendation from Jesus. “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Dear Lord,
Thank You for every one of those people who were so helpful and encouraging to Paul, and so faithful and loyal in their walk with You. Thank You too for the people that I could also list, for their help and encouragement to me in my own faith and work. Help me to be as faithful and encouraging to others without looking for any reward, except to lift up the name of Jesus. Amen.