Romans 15:1-2: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
How has your week been going? Have you been working through obstacles or has it been free sailing for you? Have you felt weak or strong? Do you dare admit you may have felt God seemed silent? Maybe you have felt like Peter, boldly climbing out of the boat and walking on water to meet Jesus, but then realized the wind was coming up so started to sink because he looked down, and his eyes left looking at Jesus (Matt. 14:29-32). Peter was afraid and cried out: “Lord, save me!” Jesus lent Peter His hand and took hold of him and helped Peter get safely back into the boat and then the wind stopped. But Jesus did ask Peter as he saved him from drowning: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt (v.31)?”
The church in Rome was a very diverse group. There were Jews and Gentiles, slaves, and free people, wealthy, and poor, legalistic, and not legalistic in their Christian faith. Much like today. Paul addressed the Romans that those who are strong have a responsibility to lift up, encourage, tolerate, and support those that are weak in faith just as God had given them endurance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5). They needed to have unity and live in harmony with each other. We are to do the same as Paul also said in 1 Thess. 5:14: “And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
The word “strong” in Rom. 15:1, is the Greek word dynatos. It means able, powerful, mighty, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul, to pick up and carry a weight. It involves being able to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience and excelling in something. Our struggles, God will use to build others up as God has so built us up with endurance, perseverance, and learning to trust and pray. It goes back to keeping the main thing the main thing.
Today the modern cultural mindset is to look out for number one – put yourself first and let anyone else fall where they may. But Paul counsels the people that true happiness and fulfillment in life – is get your eyes off of yourself and on Jesus – on heavenly things. Then you will find yourself lifted up and built up and able to walk on water as Peter did. Psalm 16:8 declares: “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
Do you ever stop and examine, while amid an overwhelming problem, that you might be irrational (I admit, this just happened to me last week)? The emotions are flowing like Niagara Falls, and you cave in and wish for a quick escape. Your imagination takes over with all kinds of fears. That is when you need to seek out a friend, and get back into God’s Word and reflect upon God’s promises. That is what the Christian family does – bearing with those who are weak, giving a word of correction gently, when needed, and listening so they can help analyze and assist in sharing the Holy Spirit’s direction of truth as you hit the pause button for just a moment. One’s life is not always like an organized Excel spread sheet neatly planned out.
Out of the blue, while recently sitting and enjoying being at a Dodger’s game on a Saturday night, a text from one of my customers, who is a Christian popped up on my iPhone which said: “As you sleep tonight, I pray God will surprise you in the morning with breakthroughs and miracles. Amen!” Those words were a needed welcome reminder and surprise at just that moment, and God did just that for me on Monday morning!
So at the end of your day today, ask yourself the following questions:
1.How did Jesus show up?
2. What did He do?
3. Who am I obligated to encourage and build up today as Christ has done for me? Write it down in a journal.
I would love to hear from you in sharing these details in your life.
Jon Courson has said in his Application Commentary on Romans 15:1-3: “It’s as though the Lord gives us broad principles in the Word and then says, “See Me for further instructions. Talk to Me about specific application.”
The MSG version of Romans 15:2 says it this way: “Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” “
Lend out your dynatos like hand today to someone in need, just as Jesus has lent out His dynatos hand to you. Allow yourself to take your turn to be on the receiving end of needing to be uplifted. Don’t sit in guilt feelings of failure. “We all are either going into a trial or coming out of one” as our Pastor Todd has said many times.
Listen to What A Friend Lyric Video by Matt Mahler. Lay your burdens down as you listen to the words.