The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 15:1-2,
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up."
We have no problem in the giving of ourselves to the people we love. We are happy to be there for them, do things for them, at times to provide for them. However, in this passage, Paul tells us to bear with the shortcomings, the failings and weaknesses of those beyond the circle of loved ones, those within the fellowship who lie outside that smaller group of loved ones, anyone that might be called "neighbor."
Paul's admonition here goes beyond bearing with these others, but in fact to "please" them for their own good (not necessarily ours). Obviously, the point could be made that when we please others to build them up for their good, it ultimately redounds to our good as we serve them and thereby please the Lord in doing so. Nevertheless, our building up of others is to be a choice from our hearts to benefit others beyond ourselves.
Paul goes on to say, in verses 5-7, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." The attitude of mind Jesus Christ has for us should be the standard for which we care for others, including those we may regard as "weak". And, we all know how much of himself he was willing to give!
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up."
We have no problem in the giving of ourselves to the people we love. We are happy to be there for them, do things for them, at times to provide for them. However, in this passage, Paul tells us to bear with the shortcomings, the failings and weaknesses of those beyond the circle of loved ones, those within the fellowship who lie outside that smaller group of loved ones, anyone that might be called "neighbor."
Paul's admonition here goes beyond bearing with these others, but in fact to "please" them for their own good (not necessarily ours). Obviously, the point could be made that when we please others to build them up for their good, it ultimately redounds to our good as we serve them and thereby please the Lord in doing so. Nevertheless, our building up of others is to be a choice from our hearts to benefit others beyond ourselves.
Paul goes on to say, in verses 5-7, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." The attitude of mind Jesus Christ has for us should be the standard for which we care for others, including those we may regard as "weak". And, we all know how much of himself he was willing to give!
We might think in terms of a weak brother as not simply a newer Christian, but someone who just may not be the easiest to love because they are, in fact, spiritually stunted or difficult within the fellowship. I suspect Paul may have had just such a believer in mind, and I'll wager he had plenty of occasions in his own life to live out his admonition to us here.
So, my thoughts this morning have to do with how I measure up in this regard...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment