Word Of God My Daily Guide and Daily Manna

WEDNESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2023

TEXT: Romans 16:1-16

1: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[b] of the church in Cenchreae.

2: 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.

3: Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.

4: They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

5: 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.

6: Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

7: 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.

8: Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

9: Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10: Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11: Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12: 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.

13: Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

14: Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

15: Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

16: Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: GREETINGS AS A VALUE

To an African, a greeting is a strong expression of respect and love often accompanied by a hand shake, eye contact and smiles.

Paul chose to extend greetings to people such as Phoebe - believed to have been a deaconess in their local church. Paul also greeted Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1-3).

The Gentile churches knew that the above believers sometimes risked their lives for Paul (vs.4).

Paul mentioned five Jewish Christians (Priscilla, Aquila, Andronicus, Junias, and Herodion) and two slaves (Ampliatus and Urbanus) in his greetings as well. Aristobulus, who was a grandson of King Herod who ruled Judea, was likewise mentioned.

Paul mentioned Rufus' mother who stood in the place of his mother. We should not forget that one-third of the people mentioned in these greetings were women. This shows the important role women played in spreading the Gospel.

QUESTION: Why should this culture of greetings be sustained?

PRAYER: Father, thank You for mentioning greetings in Your word. Remind the Church of the need for this virtue, even today. Amen.