PHOEBE

When a Bible teacher was asked what his favourite bit of the Bible was, he said, “It’s the last chapter of Romans.” The other person replied, “Seriously?! But it’s just a bunch of names!”
“Yes,” said the teacher. “The ones mentioned there were all different people, yet each had their own part to play. The Holy Spirit made sure their names were written down here to let us know they were individually loved and appreciated by God.”

The apostle Paul began Romans 16 with “I commend to you our sister Phoebe” (ROMANS 16:1). He asked the Christians to help her however she needed them to because “she has been the [helper] of many people, including me” (V.2).

Too often we think that the most effective Christians are those who go off to share the gospel in other countries, or who lead churches and speak at international Christian events. But if this is our perspective, we won’t notice the loving words and actions of the normal Christians in our churches and families whose names never get into the limelight. It’s natural to look up to those who have become famous because of their walk with Jesus, but we must also remember to encourage and pray for people like Phoebe.

You may never become a world-renowned Christian author, speaker or missionary—but then, that’s not the point, is it? Each one of us can be a Phoebe—someone who helps others get to know Jesus in our normal, everyday lives.

Thinking it over . . .

What Christians do you look up to? Do you look up to people in your church who love Jesus faithfully, yet never get into the limelight? Why are they a good example of the Christian life?