Romans 15:1–7 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.” 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
We are reviewing how, by granting us the Holy Spirit in answer to our prayers, God grants Him who produces in us all the fruits referred to in Galatians 5:22. We are seeing that there are examples in Scripture where the fruits themselves are requested in prayer. In our text this week, Paul is appealing to the church in Rome to be at peace with one another and to display the unity that was theirs in the Lord Jesus Christ. This means not despising those who are weaker in the faith than we are, but being of one mind and heart with them and seeking their good.
While it is easy to make this sort of appeal, Paul realized that without the help of God the Christians at Rome would not be able to follow these injunctions. Therefore he does two things:
First, he points to Christ's example under reproach to show what He was willing to endure at the hands of unbelievers in order to bring salvation to His people, as an argument to his readers of what they should be willing to endure at the hands of their weaker brethren to build them up in Christ. Christ did not please Himself - He was willing to be abused by the ungodly to save His people. How much more should they be willing to endure abuse at the hands of the godly ultimately to be a blessing to them?
Second, Paul prays for the believers at Rome that they may be given perseverance in dealing with their weaker brethren (or the ability to bear patiently with them) and the encouragement to keep going. These things come through the instruction of the Scriptures and they come in answer to prayer - they are things that God grants to His children so that they may be able to bear as Christ did with all the reproaches and abuse of sinners, so He might save His own.
How are you doing in this regard? Do you belittle the young in faith, or those who know less than you do concerning the things of God? Do you despise brothers and sisters who do not dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" in following your system of theology? Or do you accept them as Christ has done, and strive to please God by not pleasing yourself but seeking their good?
We can all do better in this area of Christian patience - and the way to do better is through studying the Scriptures and asking God to grant it to us. So let's make this our goal in the coming week!
