Romans 16 Devotional

A Family Known by Name

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”Romans 16:20 (BSB)

Romans ends not with theory but with people. Paul commends Phoebe, who has helped many, including him (16:1-2). He greets Prisca and Aquila, who risked their lives for him, and the church that meets in their home; Mary, who worked hard for the believers; Rufus and his mother, who has been a mother to Paul too; and many more, men and women, most of them known to us only by a name and a word of thanks (16:3-16). The gospel had made them family.

Paul also warns them to steer clear of those who cause divisions and deceive with flattery (16:17-18). Then he gives a promise: the God of peace will soon put Satan down beneath his people's feet (16:20). It echoes the first promise in Scripture, that the woman's offspring would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). The letter closes with praise to the only wise God, who is able to strengthen believers through the gospel (16:25-27). Your name may never be famous, but in Christ you belong to a family God knows.

To think about: Who in your church family could you thank or encourage by name this week for their quiet faithfulness?