I am continuing and finishing my journey in Romans today. Romans 16 verses 1-27 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 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. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 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. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 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. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 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. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
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. 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. 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. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 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.
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, 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— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ!" Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Paul's work to establish the Church of God through Christ is finished. He is passing the torch on to the Roman Christians to continue the work that God has started through him, Paul. There was a female deacon Phoebe whom Paul seems to be leaving in charge of the work he began. She was to be received and supported just as the early church in Rome received him. His work there was done and the work of the Christians both Jew and Gentile was just beginning. Paul was admonishing them all to work together and further the cause of the gospel that all men might come to God through Christ. Paul admonished the early church of Rome to find obedience to the teachings of Christ not through works but through faith. In Hebrews 11: 1 we are taught that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". Faith led Paul to Roman. He was imprisoned and persecuted for his Faith. He was not there long enough to witness the fruits of his labors HOWEVER he was assured because of his faith. He laid the foundation and trusted God for the outcome.
As Christians we should do no less. We should be bold in our convictions that God is doing a good work is us and through us. When Waine and I trusted God for ZOe we had FAITH and FAITH alone. We didn't have money or patients. We had Faith. Now whenever anyone says ZOe Pediatrics they are calling on the Life that comes through Christ. They are being blessed and don't even know it. ZOe Pediatrics has become our ministry and when people ask us what brought us to Thomaston Georgia of all places, Waine and I are able to give our testimony. Like Paul we are building a "church" through obedience to God through Christ. Like Paul our faith is tested--there are days I find it hard to continue just physically. There are days when my vision gets cloudy and thank God His never does. He can see around the bend and knows our future so when I get tired and weary I let go and let God take over. He is the only resource I need to see this mission through. One day our work with ZOe will be finished and God will have His way. He has blessed many families through ZOe and continues to humble me on a daily basis with His teachings. I thank God each day for His vision and I thank the Holy Spirit for taking my faith and sustaining me.
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you.
Stephanie
