A Wise Exhortation: Paul’s Message of Honor and Faithfulness
by Brenda Franklin-Strout
Who doesn’t love a letter with countless connection points that remind you of your people…your community? I feel like this is how Romans 16 continues the writings of previous chapters, tying us all together as well as a quick reminder to welcome those coming to join us. It invokes in me a feeling of belonging and a sweet reminder of how important relationships are to Jesus. It’s a model that Paul brings together so beautifully in his writings. He acknowledges those who work tirelessly beside him and draws the reader in with the same warmth you are confident he carries wherever his travels take him either in person or the path his letters take you down through his words. In Romans 16, it’s a letter to Rome that they are included in the Body of Christ, the Family of God. It’s beautiful and speaks out themes of family, love and exhortation. We must remember that true exhortation is rooted in love and relationship. Anything outside of those boundaries can invoke division and deep hurt. Operating outside of those boundaries is not something you ever see Jesus, the disciples or any writer in the Bible doing…it’s simply not a model we should ever adopt as scripture. Paul could not have done all that he did without relationships and brought others to the call of reconciliation with Christ without love.
This exhortation that Paul gives in chapter 16 of Romans is one of faithfulness. Faithfulness to God, the work of Jesus and those who travel and have traveled with us. Paul encourages us to stay unified, to avoid the teachings that bring division and to stay in right relationship with each other as the body of Christ and those called to bring others to reconciliation with Christ and the work of the Cross. Paul is clear that we are to avoid those that create such divisions and speak contrary to the teachings we know to be true. It’s imperative, Church, that we heed Paul’s words, follow the very clear direction of avoiding division and to remember to thank God upon every remembrance of those that we do life with…those who support, love and care for us. Those we belong to and belong to us. We are ONE body, Friends…and He came that we might stand in unity with one another, remain faithful to each other and the call for reconciliation to Jesus. In the times we live, Paul’s words ring true and we may very well need these words of Paul’s more than ever before. We must be mindful even within our community to walk in faithfulness and honor when we don’t agree, to preserve the scriptures as uniting and be ever mindful that while we grow together, our purpose is relationship and to draw all to reconciliation with Christ. That none should perish and that all may know Him. May nothing we disagree on deflect that purpose for others to see Jesus nor may it never divide us from the unity found in that singular purpose. May the grace in God keep us ever in a posture of gratitude for our own found reconciliation and those who walk with us daily. Who are those people for you? Do they know they are your people and feel the depth of your gratitude like Paul feels for his? I pray this week bring opportunities for you to share with them just what they mean to you and as a result, strengthen the fabric that is woven throughout your relationships rooted in Jesus and his Word. And to God be the glory for it all.
Romans 16:25-27: Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent or long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever. Amen.
Amen, Church. Amen. I’m praying for us this week that we may heed Paul’s words. All of them.
