Scripture to Read: Romans 16:1–16
It has always been our Lord’s desire that His body, all believers, be united in Him and love each other as He has loved us (John 13:34–35, John 17:22–23, Philippians 2:1–2). In Romans 16:1–16, God led Paul to mention several of the believers he had ministered with and who had ministered to him in his times of need. It’s truly a beautiful picture of what the church is to look like. God used Paul to say all of the following (in Romans 16:1–16) about his brothers and sisters in Christ. We read that they were “a servant of the church, a helper of many, and of myself, my fellow workers in Christ, risked their own necks, my beloved, the first convert to Christ from Asia, worked hard for you, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, outstanding among the apostles, beloved in the Lord, fellow worker in Christ, my beloved, approved in Christ, my kinsman, who are in the Lord, workers in the Lord, worked hard in the Lord, a choice man in the Lord.” These are the kinds of things every follower of Christ ought to be able to say about any other follower of Christ. God has done such a miraculous work in us (2 Corinthians 5:17) as Christians that our lives must reflect the awesome change God has made in us. These believers in Paul’s day were not perfect; they were just like us. They just chose to live out their faith, which is what we’re called to do every day of our lives.
Challenge & Application
· What would people say about you if they described your service to them and our Lord?
· What are some changes that need to be made in your life to live in a manner worthy of our Lord?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!