Tues., 2/13/18 Devotion (Rom. 16:1)

Today's encouragement comes from Romans 16:1, where we read these words:

"I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cen-chrea . . . "

This (above) is a wonderful thing to be said about a person. First, the great Apostle Paul "commends" Phoebe. He refers to her as a "sister," a part of a great covenantal church family. Phoebe was a "servant of the church." Her life was valuable, and well-spent. Furthermore, Phoebe was a "servant" of a *particular* church—the one in "Cenchrea." She did not content herself with her association with the "invisible” church alone. Instead, she was committed to a local congregation—as all faithful Christians are.

Godly women have always been exalted in Biblical Christianity. Their roles are critical. The gospel and the church literally cannot exist or thrive without them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ does His church more good now that He is in heaven . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]