- For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 – In previous times of reading this verse, I must have simply read this assuming I knew what the point of this passage was. I took it as this blanket statement of scripture that everything that was written before us, which includes all the pages of the Old Testament and even now the pages of the New Testament, were penned down and given to us to help us in the future live better for the Lord. Now is that statement true? Absolutely, but I also believe it misses the more exact message of the passage. This verse is sandwiched between verses speaking about living at peace with one another. Verses about how Christ set the example of not making life about pleasing Himself and how we ought to live in harmony with one another. Verse 4 then when taken in context is revealing a massive reason why we have the entirety of scripture written and given to us…it’s so that we’d learn to love another. That we’d see the written instructions and that we’d see the healthy and unhealthy examples and the attached consequences to both in the church family. Christ set the example for us on how to love each other and that example has been made plain for us to be enamored with through scripture. We’ve been given the models, we’ve been given the instructions, now our role is to give the obedience. Why? Like verse 6 says, so that we’d have a united voice lifting praise and glory to God rather than lifting up the sounds of bickering children who don’t get their way. God’s heart is love between His children and the testimony of scripture is evidence to that truth. Let’s be about giving God what He desires. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3438
- “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failing of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (v.1-2) Rarely is our first reaction to use the strength we have for someone other than ourselves. Our gifts, our talents, our resources, our stories; our worldly, sin nature wants to latch onto these things and use them only for our personal growth and edification. But Christ is offering to us a new way to use the “strength” that we have been blessed with. To not tailor the using of strength to build our own selves up, but to use it to encourage the strengthening of those not as strong as us. Why would God desires us, even command us, to use the strength He gave us for someone other than ourselves? Because we are a body. “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoices together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We are one – strong and weak. When we who are strong use our strength only for our own growth, truly we are hurting ourselves because part of our body is getting weaker because we never stepped up to strengthen them. End the selfishness and pour into your brother and sister. Step out of the isolation of selfishness where you only care about your own growth. You are destroying yourself and those who need you. When we break the shell of selfishness and begin bearing the failing of those weaker than us, together we will grow into everything our God is calling us to be for Him. – Daily DEVO 1
- For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. Romans 15:27 – The lesson for us simply is that if we take part in the spiritual blessing that God gives us, this eternal life through Jesus, we need to be willing to give back of us what God asks of us. For the gentiles at the time it was material offerings to aid other churches in other regions. For us, what could God ask us to give to Him? We could fill out a list of things here, but you can do that yourself. We just need to acknowledge that whatever is on that list if God asks for it we need to be willing to give it to Him. This is not a take all that God gives yet be willing to give nothing back to Him type of relationship we’re in. God gave all, we give all, that’s our relationship model. What is your’s then that needs to be God’s? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1063
- We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 – Paul is continuing his conversation that he had in chapter 14 about the freedom believers have in Christ concerning things that used to be prohibited by the law. Things like eating certain foods or drinking certain drinks. Paul is then considering those who haven’t fully understood and embraced the freedom that comes through Jesus as “weak” in the faith and those who have grasp the freedom they have in Christ from the such restrictions as “strong.” Nevertheless, those who are strong in this way ought to not make life about pleasing themselves. Our lives aren’t about embracing as much pleasure as we can in this freedom we now have in Christ. Our lives are to be used to help those weaker in the faith become strong. If that means setting aside certain things that bring us pleasure in order to walk with, support, and strengthen those weaker in the faith, we have such freedom in Christ to do so. As with yesterday’s devotion, our freedom in Christ is to be used to help others find such freedom. Life isn’t about food or drink or clothes, it’s about God’s kingdom being lifted up and filled. If then you are strong in your walk with the Lord, focus in on the believers who aren’t as strong yet and discover how you can help build up their faith life. Also focus in on those who have never heard the word like we see Paul reference in verse 21. A life in Christ is a life about Christ, not us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2424
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