Obedient to the Faith

Romans 16

No one in God’s family is unimportant to Him and His Kingdom work, and no ministry is insignificant; therefore, all are called to find the work He wants you to do. God gifts all followers and has called all to faithfully serve and Glorify Him with that gift. God not only wants to do a work in you, but through you.

Wilfred Grenfell states, “The service we render for others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth.”

Often, we are prone to honor Paul for his great work and letters and forget the many ordinary people who helped make his ministry possible. Paul was the human author of the epistle to the Romans, but Tertius wrote it down, Gaius gave Paul a place to live and work, and Phoebe carried the completed letter to Rome.

I like the way Dr. Tony Evans describes the leadership in the church following an explanation of Phoebe as a female “Servant”, the same word as “Deacon” in the Church of Rome. Though sometimes controversial, the legitimate leadership ministry of women in the church should be publicly recognized and supported; not without authority and accountability like any role in the church.

“What we see here is an example of unity within diversity. There is ethnic diversity: Prisca and Aquila (16:3), Andronicus and Junia (16:7), and Herodion (16:11) are all Jewish believers; they are included right alongside the many Gentile believers. There is diversity of gender, as several prominent women are named, including Junia (16:7), Tryphaena and Tryphosa (16:12), and Julia (16:15). There is even a diversity of class: Aristobulus (16:10) and Narcissus (16:11) are called heads of “households,” indicating a high position in society; they appear alongside others who probably owned nothing at all. These people co-labored with Paul in the ministry of the gospel. They worked very hard in the Lord.”

As we close out Romans 16, as well as Paul’s letter to the Romans, remember, the important thing is that you are obedient to the Lord and lead others into “obedience to the faith.” The God of patience and comfort, the God of hope, and the God of peace will establish you and enable you.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Romans 16:17–20 (ESV)

Paul closes with a doxology—a hymn to God—using several of the key themes of the letter (e.g., mystery, Gentiles, and obedience).

How are you faithfully serving and Glorifying our Savior today? Are you using the gifts for which he has gifted you when you chose to follow after Him, when the Holy Spirit in dwelled you? Do others see and acknowledge your giftedness? In what ways are others benefiting from your service to Jesus?
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Today, thank Him for your giftedness and seek to serve Him for His Glory and the benefit of others spiritually by helping them follow Jesus. Go make disciples that make disciples!

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