You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
So many people in Rome had already met Paul. They, like the Apostle, had travelled: at some point they heard the gospel and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Then, with Christ in them, they became changed people - living for Christ, loving the church and releasing God's Word wherever they went. The people mentioned in today's verses had Latin or Greek names and had worshipped other gods. But they now belonged together because they all belonged to Christ.
A real sense of brotherly affection breathes through these verses: words like 'love', fellow-worker', 'dear', 'tested and approved' and 'in the Lord' show the depth of confidence that the Apostle had in these men and those who loved Christ in their households. We know little about them, but in different ways they had shown their loyalty to the Lord and the Apostle in tough circumstances and, like Apelles, had become 'approved through testing' (1 Timothy 3:10).
In production engineering, a finished product is only fit for sale when it has been tested to see if it will perform according to its design. The same is true for believers in Jesus. He allows us to be tested to show that we will be true to Him. Our reaction to such testing is evidence that we will be good fellow workers, with others who have been 'through the fire' of refining. Belonging to a church is relatively easy; for some it is enough to attend meetings. But to be considered a 'fellow worker' will involve sacrifice and suffering. Yet that is Christ's intention for all who believe in Him (Philippians 1:29). We are all called to be workers together with Christ (2 Corinthians 6:1). Today, decide to make that your ambition too.
Prayer: Living Lord. Thank You for calling me to put my faith in Jesus Christ, so that I might be His fellow worker. I am sorry when I have used Him selfishly as my personal helper, and have forgotten that I am designed to be His helper too. Please enable me to see myself as a part of Your working family; help me to take on the challenges and come through the times of testing because I trust in Jesus. May I no longer be a casual Christian, but be known in the church as someone who is loyal to the Lord Jesus and His church each time my faith is tested. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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