SCRIPTURE: Romans 16
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22:31-32]
These words from Jesus offer a warning, an encouragement, and a calling.
Jesus warns Peter (and us) that we will be tested severely.
But the encouragement is that Jesus will stand by us, and that we will not fail.
The calling is to support other believers with the strength we ourselves have received.
Paul has been through the fire.
He has stood firm, and desires to share a blessing with the believers in Rome [Romans 1:11-12].
But from this verse we see that Paul also expects to be blessed – mutually encouraged.
And in Romans 16 we see that mutual blessing.
Look at the words he uses to describe the believers in Rome: Fellow workers in Christ Jesus, risking their lives for him, working very hard in the Lord, outstanding among the apostles, loved in the Lord, tested and approved in Christ, saints in Christ Jesus.
These are people that Paul has met in his missionary journeys, who have been a blessing to him.
He loves them, and longs to bless them back.
Following Jesus will be hard.
There will be people who are divisive, who serve their own appetites, who use smooth talk and flattery to divide, defeat and destroy.
Yes, Satan is afoot, but he will be crushed under our feet.
Thankfully, in the challenge of following Jesus, the fellowship and mutual support of other believers is an amazing blessing.
Following Jesus is hard, but we are not alone.
This list of names reveals the “strengthen your brothers” heart of Jesus.
Take what we have received through our spiritual journey, and use it to bless others.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]
Take time today to thank the Lord for the people in your life that are a blessing to you. And then respond to His call: strengthen your brothers (and sisters)!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the many supporters in my life. Help me to bless them and others, as they have blessed me!
Do good.
Be watchful.
Serve the Lord and not yourselves.
And Paul gives the names of the people in the church who were His workers. Encouragers of one another. Promoting the Kingdom. Unified and not divided. Together in His name. All together = supporting and encouraging. What a body of Christ!
Paul was encouraged by these his friends. What a living testimony of the church. Certainly not divisive. And God’s people today also need to surround themselves with such friends so that His Kingdom may be advanced and His champions strengthen one another.
I need to surround myself with champions like the ones described in the reading but also by my words and actions champion others for we all are His champions.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.