October 27, 2023 | Be On Mission
Behind the Scenes Laborers for the Gospel
Scripture: Romans 16(NIV)
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 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.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 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.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 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.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.
15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ send greetings.
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.
22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Devotional
Many scholars believe there were at least five house churches in Rome at the time Paul wrote this letter to them. They are mentioned in this chapter, along with so many believers who were faithful followers of Jesus.
When Paul wrote this letter, Nero had been the Roman Emperor for a few years. At first, the teenage Caesar made things better by improving relations with the Jews, lowering taxes on all citizens, ending capital punishment, and giving the senate more latitude.
But in time he would murder his own mother, seduce married women, and wrestle power back from the senate. Finally, he blamed Christians for the burning of Rome, and punished them by burning them as live torches, feeding them to wild animals, and executing them in numerous other brutal ways.
During these dark years in Rome, it would be vitally important for the church to exist in a decentralized network of homes. The Christian faith would not advance through the construction of fancy cathedrals. Rather it would flourish through the lives of faithful Christians, meeting in living rooms, moving from place to place, keeping their focus on Jesus and one another.
In what ways might God be calling you to use your home to reach those among whom you live, work, learn and play? Maybe you could invite someone over for a fall cookout. Or perhaps you could include someone in an upcoming holiday celebration. It might be as simple as inviting someone to watch a ballgame, play some cards, or join your group in a Bible discussion.
Take some time right now to pray for your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends. How is God calling you to deepen your relationship with them? Trust the Lord to give you peace as you live out your faith in your community.
Poem
Behind The Scenes
There is a place of working
Away from limelight beams
A place so very quiet---shh!
Far from applauding screams
Where I've been called to labor
Unseen, unheard, forgotten
Except by my Director, who
The Play has been begotten
I hear the Voice directing
Through whispers in my ear:
"Lights up!" "Sound on!" "Props carry!"
"Now serve the actors here!"
I'm there before the others show
Preparing for the cast
I stay after they've all gone home
After the masses passed
There's work to do behind the scenes
To clean, to put away.
I sweep the stage, turn out the lights,
Keep watch against foul play
My goal is not the clapping storm
Or crowds' adoring eyes;
My focus--my Director's call
And my faithful reply
It's not that I am shy, you see,
The glory is not mine
I serve Director, that's my goal,
And make His glory shine!
