The Wright Sister 莱特姐妹
Dexu Xia
Our sister Phoebe . . . has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Romans 16:1-2
Today's Scripture Romans 16:1-12
Today's Insights Paul’s list of greetings at the end of Romans represents the many people he met during his journeys of sharing the hope of Jesus. Many of the believers in Christ whom he impacted (and who impacted him in return) ended up in Rome, and so he had a great deal of people waiting there for him before he even arrived. Both men and women shared in the apostle’s work of evangelism, paving the way for him in Rome. As we join with other believers in caring for others, we reflect the hearts of those who assisted Paul.
Today's Devotional Most people know about the Wright Brothers—Orville and Wilbur—who invented, built, and flew the first successful airplane in the early 1900s. But few know the name Katherine Wright. Yet in her brothers’ story of creating their flying machine, Katherine was essential to their success. While her brothers concentrated on the myriad details and experiments that led to their invention, Katherine chose to quietly and lovingly help them. She kept their bicycle shop going (the brothers’ source of income), left her teaching job to nurse Orville back to health after a plane crash, and managed the endless details of her brothers’ growing fame.
The value of the support of others is seen in Scripture as well. One example is Phoebe, mentioned by Paul as a “benefactor of many people” (Romans 16:2). And Priscilla and Aquila, a helpful couple presented in Paul’s writing, hosted churches where Paul ministered and even “risked their lives” for him (v. 4). Additionally, the apostle complimented Mark, saying he was “helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).
We can be the right brothers and sisters in Christ by serving others. The ongoing work of God needs helpers like Phoebe—and us—guided by Him to serve this way: “In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but . . . to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Reflect & Pray Who needs your help? What can you do to serve others in Jesus’ name?
Dear God, please show me how to humbly serve others for Your glory.
By Dave Branon
“我们的姐妹菲比……请你们为主接待她，合乎圣徒的体统，她在何事上要你们帮助，你们就帮助她，因她素来帮助许多人，也帮助了我。”（罗马书 16:1-2 ）
今日经文：罗马书 16章1-12 节
今日心得：罗马书的结尾，是保罗代表他在宣扬耶稣里的盼望的旅行中遇到的许多人的问候。许多受他影响的基督徒（这些人也反过来影响了他）最终都来到了罗马，因此在他抵达罗马之前，已经有很多人在那里等候他。有许多男女参与了使徒保罗传福音的工作，为他在罗马的事工铺平了道路。当我们与其他信徒一同关怀他人时，我们便体现了那些帮助保罗之人的心意。
今日灵修： 大多数人都知道莱特兄弟，奥维尔和威尔伯，他们在20世纪初发明、制造并成功驾驶了第一架飞机。但很少有人知道凯瑟琳·莱特这个名字。然而，在她兄弟们创造飞行器的故事中，凯瑟琳对他们的成功至关重要。当她的兄弟们专注于无数的细节和实验，最终发明出飞行器时，凯瑟琳选择默默地、充满爱心地帮助他们。她维持着自行车店的运营（兄弟们的收入来源）；在奥维尔飞机失事后辞去教书工作，照顾他康复；她还负责处理兄弟们日益增长的名声所带来的无尽琐事。
圣经也表明了支持他人的价值。例如，保罗提到非比，说她“恩待了许多人”（罗马书16:2）。保罗书信中还提到的一对乐于助人的夫妇，百基拉和亚居拉，他们在保罗的带领下主持教会事工，甚至为他“冒生命危险”（4节）。此外，使徒保罗称赞马可，说他“在传道的事上与我有益”（提摩太后书4:11）。
我们可以通过服侍他人，成为基督里真正的弟兄姐妹。上帝持续不断的事工需要像菲比这样的帮助者，也需要我们在祂的引导下，以这种方式服侍他人：“你们要谦卑，看别人比自己强；不要单顾自己的事，也要顾别人的事。”（腓立比书 2:3-4）
反思与祷告：谁需要你的帮助？你能奉耶稣的名做什么来服侍他人？
亲爱的上帝，请教导我如何谦卑地服侍他人来荣耀祢。
作者：戴夫·布兰农