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Monday, May 13, 2024
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"Rufus"
Note:
This week we
will be
studying
several lesser
known Bible
characters
from a portion
of Scripture
one Bible
teacher calls
"a grocery
list on
names".
Message summary: Yesterday was Mother's Day. Many who give little thought to obeying God's commands and may even live in open rebellion against God will nevertheless practice the Fifth Commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).
Listen to our message on your audio player.
On Mothers Day and Fathers Day during my years of pastoring I often taught on the family and gave special focus toward honoring our mothers and fathers. Over twenty-five years of writing these messages, around Mother's Day, I usually prepare a message about mothers, often using the Fifth Commandment itself, "Honor your father and your mother".
However today I want to go in a little different direction with a consideration of a Bible verse that is likely overlooked that does have a Mother's Day message.
"Greet Rufus..." Do you know anybody named Rufus besides a beloved pet dog? It's a rather uncommon name but, here in Lancaster County where many people have Biblical names, we have met several men named Rufus. It's certainly not as common as John, Peter, Paul or even my namesake, Stephen. And actually the only people I ever met named Rufus were older than me. It's just not popular as a name for boys but who knows many names we identify with older people or now deceased people are coming back such as the following names Cora, Mabel, Hazel, Opal, Oliver.
There are just two references to Rufus in the Bible and it's possible they may be the same person and if so that would be very interesting. The first reference are the two sons of Simon the Cyrene who was forced to carry Christ's cross as recorded in Mark 15:21. "A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross". If this is that Rufus, then he would have been of North African descent. Cyrene is in present day Libya.
"A choice man in the Lord". Paul uses this interesting description for Rufus. To be described this way is a great commendation from Paul. This conveys that Rufus had some eminence among the Christians in his day. Bible teacher John MacArthur opines, "He was an extraordinary Christian, known for his love and work for the Lord and for the Lord’s people".
"Also his mother and mine". It is the last phrase in the text that has a relationship to Mother's Day. No proper name for Rufus' mother is provided. Scripture speaks little about Paul's family background. There is no reference to his family growing up; he never refers to his mother and father nor any siblings. He appears to be single and no children are mentioned. So today's brief passage in Romans caught my attention. I am not aware of a compelling reason that he would not be speaking literally here. After all Paul, like everyone else, certainly had a mother!
However most commentators feel that Rufus' mother cared for Paul like a mother; thus he tenderly refers to her as his mother.
Grant C. Richison considers that "Rufus’s mother might have met Paul in his need when his own family [would likely have] rejected him upon his becoming a Christian".
Herbert Vander Lugt asks, "Could it be that Rufus had brought a weary and tired apostle to his house, where Paul received from the mother of Rufus comforting words, a fresh garment, and a nourishing meal? Did Paul receive from her the empathy and tenderness that only a mother can give? We don't know this for sure, but it could explain his unusual greeting in today's text".
God has given mothers a unique capacity for showing gentleness and compassion, and for influencing the spiritual direction of their own biological children as well as the children whom they may influence in a motherly sort of way over their lifetime. Let's be thankful for our mothers and for those who have been like a mother to us.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
the fifth
commandment
indicates that
we're to honor
our father and
mother. When
we honor our
parents, Lord,
we also honor
You and show
appreciation
for Your
marvelous
workmanship in
our lives. We
acknowledge
that You
ordained the
family of our
origin and we
give thanks to
You for our
mother and
father,
brothers and
sisters, along
with special
women we
connect with;
those who take
us under their
wings in our
life's
journey, that
become a
mother like
figure to us,
loving and
caring for us
as though we
were blood
related. We
pray for our
mothers and
these dear
mother-like
figures in the
name of Jesus.
Amen.
Monica
Kirsch shared
a prayer
yesterday at
the beginning
of our service
that really
spoke to my
heart and
surely every
mother who was
present during
our Morning
Worship. She
has graciously
shared the
written prayer
with us so
that we might
share it with
our readers
today:
"God, today we celebrate the women You’ve placed in each of our lives who’ve nurtured and guided us, given their time for us, and loved us, even when it was hard. We know that moms are faced with big and tough decisions each and every day, and we thank You for the wisdom You give as they lead and love us. We also thank You for the many women who have mothered children who are not their own; whether they’ve said “yes” to adoption or fostering, or simply opened their lives and walked with us when we needed guidance. Lord, we are grateful for their sacrifice.
We
know from
Ecclesiastes
that, while
there are
times to
celebrate,
there are also
times to
mourn. And so
Lord, I also
acknowledge
those for whom
today is a
time of
mourning. You
tell us that
You’re near to
the
brokenhearted,
so God, I ask
in Your mercy,
kindness, and
grace, please
be near
- to those grieving broken relationships with their mom, and to moms who desire to be on better terms with their children.
- to those who have lost their mom, and to moms who feel the deep ache of loss themselves.
- to those for whom motherhood is a lonely road, and those whose desire to be a mom has yet to be fulfilled.
You comfort those in times of need, so please comfort these women as they navigate through all of the emotions that this day brings.
God, for the moms who are weary today, I ask that You would renew their spirits. For those of us who struggle to express our gratitude, I ask that today You would give us the words to say to thank the many women who have made an impact on our lives. Thank You for the ways You’ve used these women to help build a foundation for our walks with You. We are so grateful that You are a God who knows our needs before we even ask. And we lift this all to you in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen".
Brooksyne's note: Paul referring to Rufus' mother as "his" mother brought to my mind our missions pastor at church. He's only a few years younger than us and came to the Lord as a young adult. He was raised in a Jehovah's Witness family, and upon the news that he gave his heart to Christ, they rejected not only his faith but also his relationship as their son. All these years later it remains the same, but one day I was visiting Calvary Homes and began visiting with a resident. When she learned of the church I attended she asked me if I knew David H. When I acknowledged that I knew of him, had talked with him briefly, and really appreciated his ministry she smiled real big and told me he was her son, her "adopted" son. For years she has been as a mother to him and calls him her son since his mother "disowned" him. How sweet is a bond such as these two have and anyone else who steps in as a spiritual surrogate to anyone whose family has rejected them for following Christ.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Crowns
Down"
Watch
on YouTube
Josh
Baldwin
A song with
lyrics that
transports
one's soul to
our future
home in
heaven.
We sang in
church
yesterday and
it did just
that.
Today we will share some photos from a bike ride we went on Saturday with some friends from our ABF class along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal (C&D Canal). We began in Chesapeake City and finished in Delaware City, both small towns at each end of the canal and really not cities. After the round trip several of us had lunch together in a waterfront seafood restaurant.
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Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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