Daily Word

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome 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 16:1-2. Paul’s letters typically end with personal news and greetings. The closing chapter of Romans is remarkable for the large number of fellow believers mentioned. These verses give insight into the warmth of the apostle’s personal relationships as well as the fellowship of the early Christians. Paul’s word (Greek diakonos) is variously translated as “servant”, or “deacon”. It is uncertain whether Paul uses the term to refer to the specific church office of deacon, or describes Phoebe as a servant of the church in a more general sense. Today’s churches can found in many sizes from Mega (thousands) to smaller (25+), and anything in between. One doesn't have to look far to find another with a story of having been “hurt” or “offended” while attending another church. Others simply “stay away” from churches because they falsely believe they don’t need to attend “church.” The truth plain and simple is this my friends…We, YOU and I are of a corrupt nature in which nothing good dwells, and while We are all striving to become “Christ like” we often fall short of the goal. There are far to many components to that to get into right now. However, we must recognize that whatever comes our way is an opportunity for growth in some way be it in character, or in practice of our fruits of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be and act in fellowship with one another within the body of Christ, and within that unique relationship we are given extraordinary opportunities to serve others. When was the last time someone referred to you as a “servant of the church?”