Romans 16:17-23

Romans 16:17-23

Brothers and sisters, I appeal to you all to watch out for the ones who cause dissention and offense against the teaching that you all learned.  Have nothing to do with them.  For the ones such as these do not serve our Lord Christ but the gratification of their own bodies.  And through their smooth speech and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.  For your obedience is known to all, therefore I rejoice over you all.  And I desire you all to be wise in the good things and innocent in evil.  And in a short time the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.  Timothy my coworker greets you, as do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater – my kinsmen.  I, Tertius, the one who wrote this letter greet you all in the Lord.  Gaius, my host and the host of all the church, greets you.  Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, the brother, greet you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

At the close of this letter, once more Paul encourages the people of Rome to stay away from those who like to cause dissension among the believers.  In fact, Paul tells them to have nothing to do with them. Literally, Paul says to shun them.  Paul knows that the Romans are going strong in the faith.   He even says their obedience is known to all.  He wants nothing to get in the way of their faith and their faithfulness.  For Paul, doing God’s will takes utmost priority – even above tolerating disruptive people.  We should let nothing interfere with our calling.  Obedience to God is a higher calling than tolerance, especially when it involves people who use flattery and smooth speech to interfere with the work of God.

Who do you know that likes to cause dissension and offense?  Is such offense intentional?  When might it be wise to take Paul’s advice here about staying away from those who cause offense and dissension?

Second Thought:

Paul then tells us to be wise with respect to good things while being innocent with respect to evil.  Of course, none of us can be free of sin.  But we can avoid pursuing sinfulness.  We can chase after good rather than pursuing evil.  In so doing, Satan will be crushed underneath our feet.  As we focus on God and His ways we turn from Satan and his deception.

To what good has God called you?  What evil could you avoid and thus be more innocent than you currently are?  Is it inspiring to think of God crushing Satan under your feet?

Third Thought:

Finally, those with Paul join in sending their greetings to the church in Rome.  Here we see the connectedness of the believers.  Paul has already greeted those in Rome.  He knew them.  Paul also knows that those in Rome would know his companions.  Faith should inspire one another.

Whose faith inspires you whether you know them personally or simply have heard of their faith?  Do you find it easy to be inspired by others in faith?  Do find it easy to connect to other spiritual people just through their testimony?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 16:24-27