“I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”  Romans 12:1

There are no friends like the friends that are forged in the fires of combat.  As a young American GI, my father-in-law fought in North Africa against the German general Rommel.  As World War II progressed, they crossed the Mediterranean, through Sicily and up the Italian peninsula with General Patton.  It was a daunting task!  The amazing thing was that over 60 years later, he still liked to talk with his buddies on the phone!  They never forgot their experiences on the front lines!

In the last chapter of Romans, we get a glimpse into the church at Rome.  Here we see a community of believers.  There was diversity with unity:  diverse in race, social status and gender and at the same time with tremendous unity!  How was this possible, many of them were slaves?

The key to this community, this unity that transcended their differences was their relationship “in the Lord.”  They were sisters, brothers, beloved friends, fellow workers and fellow sufferers.  They had taken risks together, suffered together, served together and buried their dead in the Catacombs under Rome.  God had melded them into a family through the fire of shared trials.  The cross is the great leveler!  Who were these “living sacrifices” of Romans 16?  Here is a quick overview:

–Phoebe – a former follower of the goddess Diana, she served the church, a woman of means who used her wealth to support the work of God.

–Priscilla and Acquila – Jewish Christians who opened their home as a house church, disciplers and mentors of new believers, worked as tentmakers with Paul and risked their lives for him.

–Epenetus – First convert to Christ from province of Asia; he stood alone for Christ in a pagan society, ridiculed by family, friends and co-workers.

–Mary – a lady who worked hard for the church in Rome.

–Andronicus and Junias – relatives of Paul and had been in prison with him; a married couple; converted to Christ before Paul and labored in the gospel.

– Urbanus, Ampliatus, Stachys and Apelles – all common slave names; Paul’s friends, fellow workers who worked diligently!  They persevered and never gave up!

–Aristobulus – Herod the Great’s grandson, and brother of Herod Agrippa I!

–Herodian – a slave of Aristobulus;

–Household of Narcissus – he was the Secretary to Claudius the Emperor!  “Some in Caesars household were believers!”

–Tryphena and Tryphosa – probably twins whose names mean dainty and delicate.  They worked to the point of exhaustion.

–Persis – a Persian woman known for her love and service to the saints, beloved of the church.

–Rufus – probably the son of Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus cross to Golgotha; a native of North Africa, a black Jew.

Others of the church are mentioned, all the Lord’s people and called “saints!”

What a sparkling example of community this church was!  Christ had broken down the dividing walls—Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, bond and free, male and female, black and white!    What a remarkable thing this is!  Ordinary people turned the world upside down through their extraordinary God!  Their God was BIG and in charge!

Your friend, Jean