Who?

"Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you." Romans 16:6

This simple verse which appears to not say much, says so much about God. We don’t know who Mary is or what she did.  Mary, whoever she was, appears in a long list of people to greet in Rome. She doesn’t have the general recognition we give to Paul or some of the others, but she had God’s attention.

She worked hard for others in a way that the Greek words imply resulted in physical exhaustion. Maybe she cared for children. Maybe she cooked and cleaned. Or maybe she brought water from the well.  In all her ordinary and wearisome labor, God recognizes her as a kingdom builder and included her name in His inspired Word. Her work did not slip by His notice.

If Mary’s hard work for others did not slip by God, then ours won’t either. How wonderful to think that maybe God included this in His Word just to tell us, “I know your hard work for others, no matter how ordinary it is. Even though no one else may recognize it, I do. I recognize it as kingdom work!"

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24