August 9, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in selections from Exodus and Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 15 (NIV)
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”……Continue Reading
Romans 15 Paul was sharing this with the Romans that God doesn’t want us to be people pleasers but rather people that build up those around us for the good of Christ. He’s given us a spirit of unity so that with one heart and mouth we may glorify God. We should welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. God’s word is sufficient for our every need and we need to live in one spirit of power and love with a sound mind.
Romans 15
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Romans 15:7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.15.7.NIV
Romans 15
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.15.13.NIV
As fellow believers we are to help those that are weaker and need our help or maybe young believers and need a guiding hand. Sometimes we were the stronger believers physically and others needed our help and we helped; but now some of us are weaker and need help from someone stronger physically. But that doesn`t mean that we can`t help for we may be more spiritually minded and understand the ways of God better for all the trials that came our way and growing in the Lord. It depends on the walk that we have in Christ. But God calls us to be likeminded in Christ. We are to teach and admonish one another in the love of Christ. What are the main reasons that Christ left us here after being saved? To draw closer to Christ in our relation with Him and to preach the gospel throughout the whole world starting from where we are. Also in this would be teaching the Word of God. In our walk with Him; we should be praying, reading the word, studying the word, and memorizing the word. By memorizing the Lord can bring scripture to your remembrance or if you can`t do that at least read your Bible. This is our spiritual food. I have found that if I am not near my Bible that the Lord will reveal scripture to me because I have been in the Bible one way or another. May the Lord bless each and everyone of you.
We all have a tendency to be selfish but that is not the way of God or reflective of the example of Christ. He gives us the capacity to love others and think of them more than ourselves and certainly as an extension to accept them in the same gracious way that Jesus accepts us. And that is without judgement but with a heart to help them grow into all that God has for them. And the best expression of self sacrifice naturally was Jesus, He died to fulfill the promise to the patriarchs but also to make a way for Gentiles to be saved as well…all to the praise of His name. And what privilege is ours to proclaim that gospel and spread the good news to those who need it desperately. If we could only do that in the way Paul did…as he expressed care for unbelievers and believers alike…as seen by his heart to visit those in Rome.
Romans 15
Paul summarizes his encouragement and admonition to the Jews that Jesus came to confirm the promises to the fathers that the Gentiles will glorify God and to be unified in that message. Now Paul will go on his outreach mission to the Gentiles.
”Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”“
Romans 15:7-9 NKJV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
THis verse is so powerful because this is what we want for unbelievers. We want to share with them the peace and joy that comes from knowing God. This world seperate from God is hopeless, even depressing, at times and without God when troubles come the places to turn are few or bring about more pain. This is why we share the good news or hope that we have!
I am encouraged to read all the good things God gives us in these verses: He gives us his Word, so that we have hope through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide. He gives us endurance and encouragement to have the same attitude of mind toward each other so that with one mind and one voice we may glorify God. He gives us joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord!