Romans 15:1-13
Strength and Weakness in Faith
1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name." 10Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." 11And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples." 12And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."
13May 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.
St. Paul teaches us that some people are strong in faith and others are weak in faith...Those with strong faith must help and encourage those of weak faith...They must do this not to please themselves, but for the love of that neighbor...Encouraging your neighbor's faith is for his good...It helps his soul...
God sent His Son down, even though we rebelled from Him with our sins...Jesus did not sin...Jesus did not please Himself...He was insulted for us and because of us...He died for our sins, not His...
The Scriptures give us and teach us hope...It reveals God the Father and Jesus His Son...They alone are our hope...
We are to encourage one another, accept one another and to love one another, like Christ encourages, accepts and loves us...May this tolerance, acceptance, and love of each other give us a unity that we all together and will be with one mouth when speaking the glory of God...
Jesus became a servant of the Jews because God loves us...Why else would He send His Son down to earth to a people that had rebelled against Him?...When God sent the Messiah, from the Root of Jesse, He confirms His promises made to the patriarchs...The Messiah came for the Gentiles so that they may glorify God for His mercy...It is written that I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I will sing hymns to Your name (Samuel 22:50)...
May our God of hope fill us with joy and peace as we trust Him...
Paul teaches us that God encourages us and gives us endurance...We are to encourage others in their faith...There are times when our faith lessens and this encouragement is needed and a big pick me up...Christian unity is a difficult thing, even during St. Paul's time...But our differences and diversities are not to divide us, but can increase our faith, by showing how Gentile and Jew can live and love together...Just look at St. Paul...We are to be reminded of this Jesus' teachings...Jesus taught this love for Gentiles, Samaritans, and in some of His other teachings...We, in His Great Commission are be be evangelists for the world...This is how we know we are His disciples, "we are to love one another, as He has love us" (John 13:34)...
Faith is as much a future belief as it is a present belief...God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Scriptures give us hope...This hope is a hope of the future, by His glory, that will be revealed...Scripture teaches us not only His glory, but His Almighty power...He created the heavens and earth, and us...
The Scriptures give us hope...They are the closest thing, we have on earth to God (our Bibles)...God is our God of hope...What a sad world it would be without His and this hope...