"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Romans 16:3-7

 May 22

"Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow laborers in the cause of Jesus Christ, who risked their own lives to save mine; who are thanked not only by me, but by all the churches among the Gentiles. Salute likewise the church that meets in their home. Salute Epaenetus, my dearly beloved, the first man in Roman Asia to believe in Christ. Salute Mary, who toiled terribly for you; and Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, and who became Christians before I did." - Romans 16:3-7 (Montgomery NT)

When Paul sent this letter to Rome, he saluted Christians who had worked valiantly for Christ risking persecution and death. He salutes women and men equally in these verses including a female apostle, Junia. We often hear more about male disciples, but God worked just as powerfully through women and the great gift of women disciples in the early church. Historically, God empowered both men and women ministers to proclaim the Lord's redemptive work in Christ.

Women's leadership in the life of early Christianity in most places was an accepted part of the scattered churches. It was only where heresy existed among some isolated groups of misled women that still continued to worship pagan gods, as was the case in Corinth, that Paul forbade women to preach or teach in that specific church. This did not apply to other churches as the Bible tells us many women were in prominent leadership positions. Phoebe, Lydia, Euodia, Syntyche, Junia, and Priscilla are all referred to and designated as ministers (diakonos in Greek) by Paul. In his letters to the early churches, he calls women: fellow workers (Rom. 16:3), co-laborers (Philip. 4:2-9), and apostles (Rom. 16:7). Luke also records 13 other women disciples not mentioned elsewhere and tells of other heroic women including Mark's mother, Priscilla. Please do not feel you are limited in service to God because of your gender!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for the many wonderful women disciples. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God is an equal opportunity employer every day in every way!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)