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"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon
of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is
fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for
she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well" (Romans 16:1-2).
Although Paul had tried repeatedly to visit the church at Rome, he was
unable to get there. Yet he wanted to encourage the Roman believers, help them
understand the gospel message, and put an end to the struggle between Jewish
Christians and Gentile Christians. So he wrote a letter and asked Phoebe to
deliver it and make sure that his message was understood.
Paul carefully selected Phoebe, knowing that he needed a strong leader and a
person with good people skills, as well as someone with a solid grasp of the
gospel message. She was a deacon of the church and a benefactor of many, a
woman of influence and authority. It would have taken incredible patience and
understanding of the interpersonal and ethnic dynamics involved to heal the
division within the community. Yet this was her task: to assist the Romans in
living out their Christian faith by living in harmony with each other.
Phoebe was able to use her gifts to share the good news of Jesus Christ and
the message of grace with the believers at Rome who were struggling to accept
each other.
How can you use your own gifts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with
those who need to hear it? How can you use your influence to heal wounds caused
by conflict or rejection? How does your understanding of grace create community
and faith where you are?
Prayer
Merciful God, show us how to use the gifts you have given us to create
community and bring a clear understanding of Jesus’ message of love and grace
to those who need to hear it. Amen
Author Lynn Frank is pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Clinton Township,
Michigan. She served Women of the ELCA as leadership development specialist and
was formerly president of the North/West Lower Michigan Synodical Women’s
Organization.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible,
copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and are used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced for use in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America provided the copyright information above appears on every copy
with these words: Used with permission.
For all other purposes
contact Women of the ELCA.
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