Think of the Weaker

Did you know that being sick sucks!   Means you get terribly behind on things... including things like doing devotions.  I've been starting to feel a bit away from the Lord and realized I really need to get back to spending time with the Lord.

So getting back to Romans, today it's chapter 15:1-7.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For 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 former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Oh... I read that first verse... it makes me so aware of my frailities.
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Let me explain, this morning my son did something that was a bit less than kind, and since I'm not quite myself, I burst into tears and he apologized up the wazoo.  Appropriate to feel sorry for hurting someone, but he kept on apologizing.   This gave me the opportunity to help him understand the difference between guilt and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is immediate.  He was being thoughtless, apologized and was forgiven.  The guilt was a way for God to say "Hey, mind what you are doing lad, learn and let it go" and ALSO a way for Satan to get his hooks into him "You're such a nasty thing, how dare you even breathe".   

It gave us a change talk about how guilt is such an easy hook for Satan, causing us not to thank God (or the person forgiving us) for their forgiveness and then choosing to MOVE FORWARD in our relationship instead of lingering in the past. Guilt holds us in the past.

Anyways, So when I read those words it brought that whole conversation back to mind.  About the stuff in the physical helps us to see the spiritual more clearly.

And God helps us ALL THE TIME.  The weak vessels that we are.  
So our helping our fellows, the weaker ones among us, is just us showing God's love and concern for us in a tangible  way.
 
 ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
So Let us then do what verse two says... build each other up.   Not seeking after our own good, but for the good of the weak ones among us.  Building them up in their faith.

 I will continue this passage tomorrow!  :)

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