Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.
Romans 16:10a NIV
The sixteenth chapter of Romans is primarily one of greetings. Paul started with a series of greetings to people in the Roman church, followed by passing on greetings from those with him. One of those he greeted was Apelles. We know nothing about this man apart from this simple greeting. But it is a greeting that contains the highest compliment. He had stood the test.
What test Apelles faced is unknown. Was it a single test? Or something that persisted over time? We don’t know. All we know is that he faced a significant challenge to his faith. And he passed the test with flying colors. He remained faithful to the Lord amid whatever challenge(s) he faced.
We face tests of our faith in various ways each day, although likely nothing that matched what Apelles faced. Will I be faithful to make spending time with my Lord a priority? Or will I allow other things to interfere? Will I represent him faithfully, even when the environment is hostile to faith in Christ? Will I love that brother or sister in the Lord who is not very loving in return? And many more.
At the end of my life, I do pray that what was said of Apelles can also be said of me. That I had stood the test, remaining faithful to my Lord regardless of what I had faced.
