“I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.” Romans 16:1-2

Some roles get a lot of attention while others are overlooked until they are neglected. Walking into a store or business that is clean feels expected, but we don’t often think about the people that do this work. When attending an event, we are often focused on the speaker or musician, but we don’t think about the AV team who is taking care of the sound and slides, unless there is a mistake. In today’s passage, Phoebe had been serving the church and Paul made a point to make sure she would not only be warmly received but accepted “in a manner worthy of the saints.” Many commentators believe the service Paul referred to in these verses was the delivery of this letter to the Romans. While the mention of Phoebe may be brief, her service had lasting impacts on the church then and throughout history.

This passage reminds us that any role in serving the Lord is valuable and necessary. More than just noticing Phoebe for the things she did, Paul encouraged the church to honor her as part of the body. When we serve, we are not meant to seek personal acclaim but to exalt the Lord together. Service does not guarantee recognition or notoriety (and often receives none), but as we serve the Lord together, we honor Him and one another.

• Who has been an example of godly service to you? What can you learn from them?
• What are some ways you are serving right now in visible places and background roles? Which one do you prefer? Why?
• Pray and thank God for the body of Christ that serves one another in so many ways.