Love and Respect

DEVOTION

ROMANS

LOVE AND RESPECT

Rom 16:1-16

16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow 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 Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my relative. 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 brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

NIV

The salutation at the closing making mention of special people in Paul’s life who he met alone his many journeys among the Gentiles. It is interesting Paul mentions eight woman among those who either worked in the ministry or help his ministry in some way. Another eighteen men, maybe more because of those in the household of Aristobulus. All these people effectively did something worthy of being mentioned. We know little of them except Priscilla and Aquila, which again is interesting Paul puts Priscilla’s name before her husband’s Aquila. In the culture of that time woman had little identity of their own, if any. They were first identified as a daughter, then a wife and then as a mother. However, if we look at all the attention women were given in the scriptures, such as Esther, Naomi, Ruth, Rahab, Sarah, Rachel, Deborah the Judge, prophet, along with Mary, Martha Mary the mother of Jesus, Priscilla and many others who have been mentioned, almost too many to account for in a short devotion. The point is that God is not a respecter of persons, which also means between men and woman. Yes, a lot is mentioned about Eve being created as a helpmate to Adam as well all those instructions Paul gave to the woman in Corinth as well as the qualifications for deacons and elders, including what their wives had to be like. Yet in all the reality of the completeness of scripture, men and woman are equal in the eyes of God. He created them both, to walk through life side by side, which is why he took a rib from Adam, rather than a bone from his head or foot. Side by side equal partners in life. This sometimes flies in the face of our post-modern society as woman are fighting for equality, and in many cases for superiority. Most of it is because they do not know God on a personal level. The other reason is the men, especially believers what to be the king of their castle and think their wife is supposed to submit to them. The truth be told we are to submit to each other as onto the Lord. The other truth be told is that not only are men supposed to love their wives, but wives are to love their husbands. This is explained in the instructions to older woman to teach younger woman how to love their husbands. All in all it is a matter of common respect for each other and mutual love as we walk side by side as if we are one person, not two people struggling to have their own way, trying to force the other to travel in their direction. Marriage is not a battleground or at least should not be. Marriage is about mutual respect and admiration putting the needs of self aside for the other. This is a two way street, not a one way freeway. Women have been an important instrument of the Lord throughout the history of mankind. Let is never waver in our love and respect for each other.