Receive one another in the Lord

Romans 16:2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. Have you ever considered that we are to receive one another “in the Lord.” So often our basis for our reception and acceptance of others is who they are in the flesh—naturally. We respond or react to them depending on how they treat us or how we feel about them. However, Paul shows us the impact of the gospel in the body of Christ when he told the Roman church to receive Phoebe as she has been received in the Lord. Because of what Jesus has done for us, that is, because He has removed our fleshly life with its sins and given us His righteousness, God receives us “in the Lord.” This reception is worthy of what Jesus has done for us. We give Him glory when we receive one another “in the Lord.” We are testifying that we are so satisfied in Jesus that we don’t need our brothers and sisters to do anything else to be received by us. Even though Phoebe’s service to the church was commendable, she was to be received because she was a saint, a holy one to the Lord. This encourages us to receive one another in a way that is worthy of saints and gives glory to God in Christ. We are to receive one another “in the Lord.” That’s the love of God at work in our relationships. Can you make the connection of this verse with living to love with Jesus? How has He loved us? He has received us on the basis of His glorious, redemptive, sanctifying work. When we receive our brothers or sisters based on Jesus’ work, we’re loving with Him.