Men Without Guile
1:16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel
Though Paul in Rome is free to minister Christ to those who are brought to him while he is in chains, he is unable to carry on the extensive missionary enterprise he had before he was arrested. Others have stepped into the vacuum left by Paul. Some of them have done so with evil motives. But the ones he refers to in this verse have done so out of love and respect for Paul, recognizing that he is specially set apart by God for the defense of the gospel.
As we have seen, there is a great temptation to use ministry to advance one’s own cause instead of the cause of Christ. But there are others who just want to do whatever they can to contribute to what God is doing. They are motivated by love and a desire to advance the cause of Christ. It reminds me of what Jesus said about Nathanael in John 1:47: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" We need to praise God for people like this. What a blessing they are to the body of Christ! What would the church be like without them?
What an encouragement it was to Paul that some had stepped forward to preach Christ out of love and respect for him and his calling. What an encouragement the modern versions of these first century supporters are to those who labor on behalf of Christ’s church! Let’s us aspire to be like them! Let us give thanks to God for the ones we know, since they are easy to take for granted.
Why not take a moment today and send a message of appreciation to someone you know that fits into this category?
Lord God, thank you for believers I know in whom there is no guile. Thank You for how much good they do for the body of Christ. Please, Lord, help me to be like this. Help me to love and respect and support those that You have called to do Your work. And help me to appreciate the folks like this that You have put around me. They do not draw attention to themselves so they are easy for me to neglect. Help me to show them how much You love them, Father.