Fellow Workers

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:3-16

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Fellow Workers
What a magnificent list of names that Paul lists out here at the end of his epistle to the Romans. The Apostle encourages the mutual consolation of the brethren. He knows that we live with other saints. He knows that you have been placed within a congregation with other Christians who are also sinners like you. He also knows that those fellow Christians have been redeemed by Jesus blood just like you have. He knows that you have been made a family with them. That God counts you as part of his family: his brothers and sisters. That he has lifted you out of your sin and death and given you life instead by the power of his Son's cross. The world wants you to believe that the church is a bunch of hypocrites. The fact is that it is just a bunch of sinners that are receiving the gifts of heaven like you. They have been washed in the blood of Jesus like you. And this Jesus strengthens you with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to build one another up. Thanks be to God for the Christians in our life. Thanks be to God for the congregations we are placed into. Thanks be to God that Jesus has redeemed us by his blood and made us together alive.