Romans 16
June Memory Verse: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Read: Romans 16
What I love about Romans 16 is the encouragement that Paul closes this letter with. Throughout the whole chapter, we continually see Paul listing names of fellow believers (who we might not know much about) and announcing something about them. Everything he says is so encouraging. I can’t imagine how these people must have felt knowing the Apostle Paul said this about them!
But I think this is something that the universal Church lacks these days. We lack in encouraging other believers around us. We all want to be told “Good job” or “thanks for your help”, but so often we miss opportunities to encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I hear story after story of people who have been hurt by the church and that is the reason why they don’t follow Jesus anymore. The Church should be a reflection of Jesus. It should be full of love and encouragement.
I bet when Paul encouraged these fellow believers it only fired them up more to go out and live for Jesus, even under persecution. I think the same could be true for us. This world is getting difficult. At times it is really tough to be a Christian. But this is why we need each other! This is why we need to be encouraging one another.
Would there be more passion in the church when people are being encouraged by other believers? Who could you encourage today?
Take time to text or call someone right now to encourage them.
By: Brice Stockton
Read: Romans 16
What I love about Romans 16 is the encouragement that Paul closes this letter with. Throughout the whole chapter, we continually see Paul listing names of fellow believers (who we might not know much about) and announcing something about them. Everything he says is so encouraging. I can’t imagine how these people must have felt knowing the Apostle Paul said this about them!
But I think this is something that the universal Church lacks these days. We lack in encouraging other believers around us. We all want to be told “Good job” or “thanks for your help”, but so often we miss opportunities to encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I hear story after story of people who have been hurt by the church and that is the reason why they don’t follow Jesus anymore. The Church should be a reflection of Jesus. It should be full of love and encouragement.
I bet when Paul encouraged these fellow believers it only fired them up more to go out and live for Jesus, even under persecution. I think the same could be true for us. This world is getting difficult. At times it is really tough to be a Christian. But this is why we need each other! This is why we need to be encouraging one another.
Would there be more passion in the church when people are being encouraged by other believers? Who could you encourage today?
Take time to text or call someone right now to encourage them.
By: Brice Stockton
3 Comments
Well, Brice, I read the chapter and didn't get much out of it at first and I was sitting here asking what do I take from this? And then I read your comments and it was so great! Suddenly the passage meant a lot. Thank you so much! Cyber Hug!
Thanks for this encouragement to love & encourage in spite of the world being so difficult, and because the world is so difficult. I was deeply discouraged this morning and in tears because I'd tried to give loving help to someone who was quite rude /accusing/attacking in return, and I felt apologetic for loving - but then I had to remind myself that Jesus loved and got a beating for it, and He never apologized for loving. He sends us out to be sheep in the midst of wolves, which means we are to keep loving hard despite the fang-y snarls around us. Your commentary on Paul's chapter of encouraging greetings was like a confirmation of God's message to me this morning, to keep trying to encourage/build-up/love/help people in disregard of hurts, because we can't let the hurts win - love must win!
Good job Brice