“Greet … my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. …The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
Romans 16:3, 20b
The stroke I suffered ten years ago changed my life. There’d be no more playing barefoot in the park with my dogs, hiking mountain trails with my family, biking steep hills, running in the evening after work, driving a car, or walking in the neighborhood while holding my wife’s hand.
But for all I lost, I’ve gained an abundance of new friends, each one a treasure to me: Lindsey, Lindsay, Lauren, Adam, Heather, Julia, Laurie, Megan, Elizabeth, Betsy, Katie, Denise, Ann, Ruth, Kris, Chris, Lynette, Izzi, Linda, Jeff, Kyle, Dani, Beth, Sam, Bill, Bob, Al, Dan, Kevin, Ron, Dean, Frank, Verlie, John, Harry, Shari, Dave, Lessie, Jodie … all real names of people who are now an integral part of my life.
It’s easy to skip over a list like that or like the 27 names in Romans 16, but “This is not a simple list of greetings. This is the way a person who is drenched in Christ talks about his friends,” John Piper says (2006) of Paul’s friendship inventory.
And of all that may arise out of adversity, our friendship with Jesus Christ fills us most abundantly.
But for all I lost, I’ve gained an abundance of new friends, each one a treasure to me: Lindsey, Lindsay, Lauren, Adam, Heather, Julia, Laurie, Megan, Elizabeth, Betsy, Katie, Denise, Ann, Ruth, Kris, Chris, Lynette, Izzi, Linda, Jeff, Kyle, Dani, Beth, Sam, Bill, Bob, Al, Dan, Kevin, Ron, Dean, Frank, Verlie, John, Harry, Shari, Dave, Lessie, Jodie … all real names of people who are now an integral part of my life.
It’s easy to skip over a list like that or like the 27 names in Romans 16, but “This is not a simple list of greetings. This is the way a person who is drenched in Christ talks about his friends,” John Piper says (2006) of Paul’s friendship inventory.
And of all that may arise out of adversity, our friendship with Jesus Christ fills us most abundantly.
Scripture Focus
Romans 16
Insight
Thank You, Lord, for the abundant gift of friendships You have blessed us with, particularly our friendship with You. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Jeremiah 11-12
- Psalm 109
- Romans 9-10