ROMANS 16:1. “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is in Cenchrea:” COMMENDABLE. “Who will do this? Why haven’t they done that? Can’t they see that something has to be done? That has been broken for months and nobody has fixed it! There isn’t any love in this place!” How often words like this are thrown about by those whose contribution is to warm a seat for an hour on Sunday morning. They claim to be “part of this fellowship” but no one has seen the inside of their house. They know all the things that are wrong in their eyes. They know what has to be done but never do it. For some reason, their whole effort in life is to make sure they are comfortable. “I don’t feel comfortable here. We are going somewhere else where we can be more comfortable.”
But look there – see that lady? See has been sitting quietly in that seat for years. No one hardly notices her at first. Visitors come in and have sat through the meeting. When it is over, they stand and head for the door. That little lady is there before them with a quiet smile waiting to greet them. How did she get there first? She knows what it like to be a stranger and overlooked so she eased out of her seat just before the final “Amen” and is there waiting to ask them to her home for a meal. Her ways are such that they feel comfortable, and her genuine interest is not faked. “I have to take a couple of people home first, but I will be back here shortly and show you the way to my house.” A widow is standing nearby, and she too is included in the invitation. A quick glance around the parking lot shows most people leaving or have already left, and two more are glancing furtively about. She calls out to them, “You are coming to my house for dinner today, aren’t you?” They look at each other and nod, “Thank you very much.” She is a “succorer of many.” She is commendable.
A man and his wife make it a point to meet with the folks down the street at least once a week. They also have assumed responsibility for providing a meeting place – their own home. An articulate teacher came by their assembly and spoke very well – but there was a problem – some of what he said wasn’t quite right. So, they ask him home for dinner, and then explained to him what was really the way things were. He listened and learned and probably was very thankful for that man and his wife. They paid their way, and helped a full- time worker who needed some work for awhile to meet his obligations, by having him work with them. They went right to the wire for Paul and did everything they did with a full heart – they didn’t hold back. They are commendable.
The first one saved in one place, stayed with the work all the way through. Even though it probably happened there, like every place else, that some who jump on the bandwagon at first when all is going good jumped off at the first sign of opposition. Another lady kept supplying all the needed labor to keep the Lord’s servants able to keep at the work of the Gospel. Some brethren were willing to go to jail rather than compromise the truth of God for which they were responsible. Family members who support those who press ahead with the work of the Lord; people who open their homes to the Lord’s people; those who there when you need them – all of these are commendable.
God help me to be commendable in some way. There is so much to be done that I can do. So many people to help that I can help. I would like to hear when this is all finished, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
“Father, my times are in Thy hands. Each day I would like to have accomplished something that is commendable. I am most concerned that it is commendable to
Thee, but I wouldn’t mind if it could also be commendable to others. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”