Our sister Phoebe has been a great help to so many people, including me. I am full of joy because of you all. Romans 16.1,19
The apostle Paul persecuted and killed Christians until he met Jesus. He discovered how much Jesus valued and loved him in spite of all the harm he had done. Later Paul spread the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom and founded churches throughout the Roman empire.
Paul wrote letters to many of those churches. He sent one of those letters to the church in Rome. That letter to the Romans full of profound theology. In the last chapter of the letter Paul concludes with personal greetings to people he knew in the church in Rome. He began by expressing his appreciation for Phoebe. He wrote : Our sister Pheobe has been a great help to so many people, including me.
Paul knew Phoebe well and all the other men and women he mentioned by name in that last chapter. He knew that they were not perfect people. He could have reminded them of their shortcomings and warned them against sin and evil. But Paul didn’t do that. Instead, he expressed how much he valued and appreciated each one. At the end of the chapter Paul concluded: I am full of joy because of you all. (Romans 16.19)
Paul’s joyful appreciation for the church members in Rome reflected his own inner joy at being valued and loved by God. God’s generous love for Paul gave him a generous heart of love and appreciation for others.
This is the message we bring through our radio broadcasts. Through this media ministry, Christian churches are being grounded in God’s love, communities where believers learn to show esteem and appreciation for others instead of coveting what others have and they don’t.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you that you value and love us. Give us joyful and generous heart to love and appreciate others, especially those in your family. Amen
