https://odb.org/2025/04/10/the-wright-sister
Romans 16:1-4: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon 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 Priscillac 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.
We returned last week from our multi-city tour of Europe, with a stopover-stay in the UK to spend time with our elder son. But I couldn’t get back to writing these devotional pages expediently as I have been struggling with jet lag for the past week. My apologies for my tardiness. I only managed to fall asleep in the wee hours of the morning. Thus, it was impossible to wake up at 5.30 a.m. to seek God and write.
The Central European tour was whirlwind quick but tiring yet absolutely enjoyable. The cold was a refreshing change from the hot and humid weather we are accustomed to over here. One of the highlights, there were actually quite a few, was seeing the magnificent cathedral in Cologne, which miraculously survived the bombings in WW2 by the grace of God.
Coming to the topic of today, as Paul commended in Romans 16 the brethren who helped the church and his ministry by name, we know for sure that ministry is a team effort. Everyone needs to play their part. I see that even in my life group, where there are those who are taking the initiative to organise a retreat when the leaders are busy with work and other ministry duties.
In the case of the famous Wright brothers, there was Katherine Wright, who helped them in the background running their bicycle shop that was the brothers’ source of income and also nursing Orville back to health after he suffered a plane crash in their quest to invent the aeroplane. Paul remembered those who were helpful and who contributed to the cause of ministry. Jesus will, of course, remember and will reward and honour them accordingly in their time in eternal life. But will we remember and honour those around us for all that they have done in our midst even as we ourselves serve God faithfully in accordance with the talents and giftings He has bestowed upon us? We must encourage and honour all our fellow soldiers in Christ, all who have worked and toiled tirelessly for Christ all these years. As the Chinese say, from dark hair to grey hair, we have all served God in the church all these years, one way or another.
The LORD God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ like to commend each and every one of us today for our faithfulness in serving in the church, for our generosity in time and finance and for our kind and encouraging words of exaltation. Despite our challenges in life and at our workplace, in particular, the expected turmoil the world will face with an unpredictable and manipulative president in the US, we will stand the course to complete God’s plans and purposes for our lives!
Have a good weekend ahead, everyone! Be a good and helpful brethren and at the same time appreciate and honour our fellow helpful brethren, in our quest to fulfil the will of the Father here on earth as it is in heaven!
Ronnie's Thoughts 