When He speaks His words are loud and clear in my heart, my thoughts, my spirit, as I hear what He is saying! “It’s not about waiting – it’s about the preparation.” Those words came to me as I made some discoveries in reading the last chapter in the Book of Romans.
“I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.” (Romans 16:22 – NIV) Why was this verse jumping off the page at me? Why have I never really seen it before? Like so many of us do, I skip merrily by the names mentioned in introductions and the greetings sent in closings. But now I was paying attention. Who was Tertius? Why was he writing this letter? After some research I discovered Tertius was the Apostle Paul’s scribe – his secretary! The one chosen to write the epistle to the Romans as Paul spoke it.
It made me think of Pastor Mike and how he had picked me, chose me to be his secretary. He had been walking about the church building, praying about a replacement for the secretary who was leaving. Looking up at a plaque above a doorway, he read the words – “My Father’s house shall be a house of prayer to all the nations” (Mark 11:17). Pastor Mike wanted the nations represented and I came to mind – the young woman from Australia. I had been praying about a another job having just finished working in the local school district, when our children moved up to middle school. In fact, I had just returned from putting in an application at the local Lowes home improvement store, when I got the message from Pastor Mike to call him. In the course of the conversation, he mentioned working part time Monday thru Friday. I said I don’t know about that, thinking he was only wanting me one or two days a week. Then he said, I don’t think you understand, I’m offering you a 36 hrs per week job! I was so surprised! Me? What a privelege, what an honor to take a position in our Father’s house, serving the senior pastor and others administratively! Following in the footsteps of Tertius! Since the church began there were secretaries!
Meanwhile, back in Romans 16:23 it mentions Erastus the city treasurer (or director of public works – responsible for civic administration, public works and roads). Erastus was an active traveling missionary and trusted assistant to Paul. Wham! I immediately thought of my man and how when enlisted in the Navy as a Seabee (the construction arm of the Navy) he would often come under, or alongside of the Public Works departments to do their job, as they served the communities they deployed to around the world. Both he and I went on mission trips, lived overseas (compliments of the Navy) and always found ourselves supporting and assisting the military, church and community leaders we came in contact with, in the different locations we have lived in. The Navy was our mission board, they just didnt know it!
This is the reality of His Word speaking. Ordinary people doing ordinary things as they follow the Lord as He reveals His purpose for their lives, SO THAT, “all the nations might believe and obey Him.” (Romans 16:26)
