S.O.S.
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.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
Romans 16:11-14
It’s one of those passages you often skip past. But it’s a reminder that there is gold to be found if only you look closely.
In the ancient world - ordinary people don’t make it into the writings of history. We know about Caesar, we know about Cleopatra, we know about the kings and queens and generals. But there is no mention of the servants, the tradesman or the soldier.
And to be fair. So much of the New Testament narratives are focused on the main moves. Jesus followed by Peter and Paul. But of course, Jesus was a tradie, Peter a fisherman and only Paul can lay claim to being something of Jewish upper-class.
Here in Romans 16, though, we are reminded that Paul’s work and the advancement of the gospel has been supported throughout by a host of ordinary men and women.
Faithful brothers and sisters doing God’s work and contributing to God’s purposes. Even one who Paul goes so far as to call her like a mother to him!
But that’s what we are. Most likely, none of us will be recorded in the history books. We are just ordinary people. But ordinary making up the little pieces that all add up to the gospel going forward and God being glorified in the world.
So. We might be ordinary. But what God does through us is extraordinary. And your actions today contributes to that extraordinary work. We may be ordinary but we are not insignificant.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He is the God who knows and works through the most ordinary of people for His glory. Give thanks for Jesus who was born into a palace in Rome but as a Jewish peasant in a tiny village. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others do ordinary work today that contributes to His good plan.
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.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
Romans 16:11-14
It’s one of those passages you often skip past. But it’s a reminder that there is gold to be found if only you look closely.
In the ancient world - ordinary people don’t make it into the writings of history. We know about Caesar, we know about Cleopatra, we know about the kings and queens and generals. But there is no mention of the servants, the tradesman or the soldier.
And to be fair. So much of the New Testament narratives are focused on the main moves. Jesus followed by Peter and Paul. But of course, Jesus was a tradie, Peter a fisherman and only Paul can lay claim to being something of Jewish upper-class.
Here in Romans 16, though, we are reminded that Paul’s work and the advancement of the gospel has been supported throughout by a host of ordinary men and women.
Faithful brothers and sisters doing God’s work and contributing to God’s purposes. Even one who Paul goes so far as to call her like a mother to him!
But that’s what we are. Most likely, none of us will be recorded in the history books. We are just ordinary people. But ordinary making up the little pieces that all add up to the gospel going forward and God being glorified in the world.
So. We might be ordinary. But what God does through us is extraordinary. And your actions today contributes to that extraordinary work. We may be ordinary but we are not insignificant.
For Today:
- Do you sometimes feel small or insignificant?
- How has God worked through you to contribute to the work of His Kingdom?
- Give thanks to God that you are known by Him and get to be a part of His good plan.
Pray: Praise the Father that He is the God who knows and works through the most ordinary of people for His glory. Give thanks for Jesus who was born into a palace in Rome but as a Jewish peasant in a tiny village. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others do ordinary work today that contributes to His good plan.
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