Making Introductions...

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. (Romans 16)

Before his final benediction, Paul wants to mention a few more people, who may or may not have been known to his readers. Timothy was his faithful friend and fellow-worker, while the next three were fellow Jews who had come to Christ. This was relevant to the letter they had just read, as he had said a lot about the role and relationships of Jewish and Gentile believers. They knew what he was writing and were, in a sense, partner to it.  As usual, Paul had an assistant do the actual writing, who was also "part of the team."  The last three would be men of prominence who would have some "name recognition" amoung them. Paul was not "throwing names around", but wanted them to understand the unified team behnd this letter.  That is something we need to have a keener sense of - introducing fellow believers to other fellow believers. It helps us have a growing sense of how big and unified the body of Christ could and should be. It reminds us that we do have much which does and can "bind us together", and that it is a good thing to be a part of the family of God. So don't just huddle in your little clique with a few fellow saints; spread the wealth. 

Peaceful Destruction

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16)
The Enemy is hard at work in subtle ways, even infultrating the assembly of God's people to work havoc and destruction.  But God does not sent us on a witch hunt or search and destroy mission. We need to leave that up to Him, and simply avoid and beware of those who allow them selves to be used in this way. God is the God of peace, who Himself will crush Satan and deal with all his devices.  What a picture: the God of peace who smashes the real enemy, giving us real peace.  Grace says let God deal with him, and with those who allow themselves to be used by him.  We just need to make sure we are not one of them. 

What kind of Greeter are you???

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you (Romans 16)
Paul had a lot of friends (and enemies too!) Here he greets many he had come to know in his missionary journeys.  He had invested in them and received from them many blessings in Christ. He developed relationships.  That is contrary to much of how we live life today.  Our "greet" list may be very short - not because we are shy or quiet, but because we hold back from being involved in what God is doing.  What He does always involves people for whom Christ died.  So do all you can today to add to your "greet" list.  Choose to be a blessing in God's plan. 

Am I Commendable?

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. (Romans 16)
As Paul closes his letter, he has a long list of people for whom He is thankful.  As he describes them, it gives us a point for self-examination: Am I this kind of person? Not that we all are the same or gifted the same, but is there anything commendable by which we bless others?  Phoebe was - not because she stood out as a leader or a brilliant mind or dazzling beauty, but because she served others.  May that be said of all of us: that we be known as servants, and be recommended by others as such. 

Remembering who we are...

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4)
We tend to revert... in many ways.  Often, as children of God, we forget that. We begin to think, speak, and act more like our old "slave to sin" selves. We forget that we are children of God. So, God has given us His Spirit to remind us. Will we listen? Or will we ignore Him?  Just as a reminder...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

Will you really pray for me?

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15)
I know. Like you, I've said it: "I'll be praying for you." Then I forget... In the new movie "Overcomer", there is a telling scene when the lead actor is asked if indeed he had kept his promise to pray for someone, and had to admit he had failed to do so.  Here Paul concludes his practical exhortations to this group of Christians by appealing to them to pray for him. He does so "By our Lord Jesus Christ" - that is, really believing that Jesus gives our prayers their power, and also "by the love of the Spirit" - that they (and we!) would allow the Holy Spirit to prompt us to pray, allowing the Spirit to flow by our intentional love - doing what is best for each other, no matter what it costs us.  Paul's request is not at all selfish. He wants to be freed from prison so he can see legalism overcome, take a gift from the Gentiles back to the Jewish believers, and give a joyful report to those at Rome.  In other words, He asked for prayer so he could continue to serve others.  Why wouldn't we pray for that? Why don't we?

Being "Full"

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,
    and those who have never heard will understand.”

22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. (Romans 15)

Paul had a way of saying some hard things to fellow believers and coming away from the experience "full", confident, satisfied, and hopeful.  He was able to do so because it was part of his calling as the "apostle to the Gentiles." But he was also able to do so because he knew Who it was that was in work in his own life, and in the lives of his readers: Christ Himself. Christ brings fulness, contentment, satisfaction to our lives - that even though none of us are perfect, or do things perfectly well, when we operate in the sphere of His love and power, all things will work out. Paul was convinced that his ministry would continue, the saints would continue to be sanctified, Jews and Gentiles would become one in Christ, and that God would supply the needs of those who were hurting through fellow believers. May we gave that same "fullness" as we rest in Him today.