Yesterday, as on most Wednesday mornings now, I posted at what is becoming one of my favorite sites, leahadams.org. Leah, although I've not met her in person, is such a gracious Christian sister! I hope to meet her in person this summer and learn at her feet a bit. She has a feature on her blog that allows other bloggers to "chime in" on an announced topic. That feature is called The Loft.
The topic yesterday was "Friendship", and I thought about that as I read Romans 16:1-16. We find ourselves at the end of the wonderful book of Romans. I hope my personal study of it has blessed you over these past two months. Tomorrow's post will bring us to the final installment in this series.
In these sixteen verses, Paul sends "holy hugs" to those people of the Roman house-churches whom he knows most well. Some of them were in prison with him (vs.7). He lived with some as a houseguest (vs. 3) for some time. One was a mother-figure to him (vs. 13). And on and on.
But, the common characteristic all these folks share is that they not only profess a love for Jesus Christ, but they are "pulling on the same team" with Paul. They all have the same focus. Most are commended for hard work and personal sacrifice for the sake of the spreading of the gospel.
All this reminds me of some of my far-flung friends, whose hearts are knit to mine. Most are new friends, whom I've met through the missions emphasis of the wonderful church Hubster and I attend. Here are a few to whom I'd like to give holy hugs this morning, since I can't give them one in person.
- Justin and Brittany and kids - - - missionaries planting a church in the Bywater area of New Orleans.
- Miss Hilda - - - who preaches the gospel to prisoners and encourages them, in the NOLA area
- Alexandra, Coop and Rachel - - - students at NOBTS, helping also with the Bywater church
- Lana and Andrew - - - planting a church way across town, among thousands of refugees
- Judy and Gary - - - always on the look-out for opportunities to minister to those of the Muslim faith
- Cesar and Gabi, Fio and Jorge, Vale and Matteo, Gloria, Vivi, Rolans and Friene - - with Zona Zegura and Village of the Children ministries in Cusco and Cachora, Peru
- Donna - - - laboring in the wilds of British Columbia
- Erick, Steve, Leon, Mark, Barbara, Teri, Erin, Leah, Jerralea - - - telecommunications/internet evangelists extraordinaire!
All these (and others) have my heart and my prayers, that God will expand and explode your ministries as you faithfully serve Him.
Like Paul's list, these are my "list of stars". But, you know, we can all be shining stars for the Savior. These on Paul's list were merely doing what they had been called to do.
Take Phoebe, for instance. In some translations, she is described as a deaconess. Therefore, Romans 16:1-2 is used by some to argue that churches should have female deacons or elders. Regardless of how you believe about that, let's not argue about it. What is in a title, after all? If you want to be a "deaconess", Gals, then serve like one! The Lord Jesus' "well done" can't be matched by any earthly title anyway. It is He you serve, and His commendations alone you should seek. All else is merely fleshly pride, in my book; and I know, because I am so susceptible to it.
Well, brothers and sisters, no matter where or how you serve the Lord, build each other up in the faith today and pray "like there is no tomorrow", because...who knows? The Lord Himself may descend from Heaven with a shout today! And, even if He does not, we are not promised the next "tomorrow". "Work while it is yet day...." (John 9:4) and have a blessed one!
Father, I thank you for my brothers and sisters in the faith, who work hard to advance Your kingdom, exercising their spiritual gifts, being the Bride of Christ. Your Beloved is so beautiful in Your eyes, Lord Jesus! Amen.
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