Rhoda's Role

Linda Rock
Oct 4, 2023
3 min read

We are reliably informed that in the Greek origin, Rhoda means rose.

Our reference is Acts 12; 13 – 15.

Who is Rhoda? She is a servant in the house of Mary, the mother of John. On this day, there is a prayer meeting in progress. The ‘church’ has gathered in this house to pray for Peter. Earnest prayers of petition are being offered up to God, to save the life of Peter. Rhoda’s servant role is needed more than ever today, because one of her duties is to answer the calls of those who come to the door.

In fulfilling her role, she is there as servant, not as actively involved in the gathering of pray-ers. This was forcibly brought home to me with all its significance. You see, in this house, the owner and all those who had come to pray were earnestly and faithfully seeking God’s Face, while the servants were earnestly carrying out their roles.

Rhoda was faithful in her role, which was not as one of the prayer warriors. She was a servant performing all the other needed and necessary duties. One of these was the answering of the door. Rhoda’s Role, as a servant in the house, is to have hearing ears. Today, her role is, ‘hearer’ and not that of ‘pray-er’.

Let’s be reminded in this very simple picture, of a very profound truth. While others are earnestly praying for Peter, who is on death row, facing his death that very day, Rhoda is still doing her duties as servant.

Rhoda, in her servant role, hears a knock at the door and responds by going to the door.

Rhoda, in her servant role, also hears the voice of Peter and responds by going to the pray-ers.

Let’s reason here. This servant is one who has ‘hearing ears’.

Rhoda hears the knocks, knows that they are knocks and does not doubt what she has heard. So sure is she that there is a knock, she leaves where she is and what she is doing to respond to it. As simple as this may be, you need to hear it. This servant of Mary, knows that it is knocking and not some other noise. She is sure of what she has heard.
Rhoda hears the voice of a man outside and knows that it is the voice of Peter. There are no doubts in her mind, for she knows Peter’s voice. So sure is she that it is he, that her excitement gets the better of her and she responds by running back to the praying party, to tell them the great news.
Rhoda hears the voices of those in front of her who will cause her to doubt her hearing. As she comes with this overpowering miraculous news, they tell her, “You’re out of your mind.” But nothing dampens her excitement, nor causes her to question herself. She has heard.
Rhoda hears and even though she has not seen, she is stubborn in her hearing that it is Peter who is outside. She stands by her hearing that God has answered the prayers of those who are praying.

In the house of believers, there are pray-ers, and there are simple servants to whom God sometimes gives His hearing ears. If you are as a Rhoda, then your role is to hear and not doubt what you have heard. Though no eyes see the actual at the moment, know the reality is that you have heard. Never doubt the voice of God to you. Though others who have not heard, will do their best to dissuade you and cause you to question your hearing, stand firm and like Rhoda, keep insisting that you have heard. They too will know, and all will see.