Written In The Lamb's Book Of Life - Reid Ferguson

Walk in Wisdom – Gleanings from Scripture

Romans 16


In the closing to Paul's magnum opus (as many
have called it) Paul takes the time to send his
greetings to quite a number of people. In fact,
he mentions at least 34 people in this chapter.
Some are with him, some are just friends and
some are true co-laborers in some fashion. But
what calls for notice is the large number of
names of unknown people. People never
mentioned elsewhere either in Scripture nor in
Church history. Ordinary folks like you and me.
Not Apostles or Prophets. Not great teachers or
preachers of extraordinary note. Neither heroes
nor those who did great exploits. Just common,
everyday, run-of-the-mill saints. Men and
women who believed the Gospel, and lived their
lives for Christ's sake. Husbands, fathers, sons,
sisters, daughters, wives and grandmothers. No
occupations are mentioned. For the most part,
no special note of any gift or ability. People of
whom the world barely took any notice at all,
except for the fact that they were Christians.
And Christians were not especially popular
people. Just the same, Paul salutes them.
They are familiar to him and he wants to send his
regards. He doesn't care what their economic
status is, their reputation within the community
or their standing even in the Church. They are
God's people, and that is enough. The faceless
men and women who join the countless millions
over the centuries who have come to trust in
Jesus Christ as their Savior. They are his family.
His dearest ones. His beloved in Christ. He
owns them as his own. It could have been your
name in that list, or mine. And the great glory of
that would not be that "my name got into the
Bible! Aren't I special?" No, the great glory is
that our names are written in the Lamb's book
of life. And the day will come, when the
numberless millions will gather on that shore to
sing and shout and rejoice and celebrate the
Lamb who purchased their salvation at Calvary.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.



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Blessings: Reid
Dulcius Ex Asperis