Romans 16:4: Who Risked Their Necks For My Life . . .

Romans 16:4

Who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. (ESV)

We all have acquaintances in life. Few of us have friends. Of the friends that we do have, how many of them would risk their neck for your life? Paul had some amazing friends. Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for the Apostle Paul. Scripture does not tell us specifically how they risked their lives. I suppose that in heaven we can get all the stories of their heroics for Paul.

We know that the Bible talks about us being willing to lay our lives down for the Gospel. Many of the first disciples were willing to do that. Peter was crucified upside down. The Apostle James was put to death with the sword. The Apostle Paul was beheaded. Other people throughout history were burned at the stake, like John Hus and Polycarp.

Paul says that Priscilla and Aquila risked their necks for his life. The reality is, they were risking their lives for Jesus Christ himself. They knew that to rescue Paul was to rescue one who powerfully proclaimed the Gospel. They recognized in Paul, a tremendous ministry. To this day, lives are changed as they read the words that God gave Paul to write.

In today's world, we do not know how we might be called upon to risk our necks for another believer's life. When we are called upon to make such a sacrifice it would be good for us to remember that in so doing, we are actually risking our necks for the Savior himself. It is my prayer that the church of Jesus Christ would love one another to the point where we would be willing to die for each other, and for Christ himself.

Do you see someone who is effective in ministry? Be a friend to them. Pray for them. Encourage them. Be willing to risk your neck for the proclamation of the Gospel.