Romans
15
– 16
Verses 15:1 & 2 sum up what’s next:
1 So
now what? We who are strong are not just to satisfy our own desires. We are
called to carry the weaknesses of those who are not strong.2 Each of us must strive to please our neighbors,
pursuing their welfare so they will become strong.
This is something that often times we miss.
If you remember Paul said earlier that we should not do something we don’t
think is a sin while it is considered one of another “brother” in Jesus. This
is a continuation of that, where we are to strengthen the relationship of
others with the Lord, and this will help improve ours in the same manner. See
“sacrifice” is not doing something that is comfortable for you, but rather
going outside your comfort zone.
If we take yesterdays “first will be last
and last will be first” order then this solidifies the understanding. The key
is “love” and with that a love for your neighbors with service. We tend to fall
into the “invite” trap expecting a sermon to help them and that is “service”.
When they may be disabled and need some help, or they may just need a morale
booster. We don’t know what their needs are but if you see something that will
help, jump in and do it. Or just simply ask, it doesn’t matter what YOU may
think their needs are, God knows for sure.
Notice in this chapter how often he prays
for the people of Rome. Three times he specifically says “I pray” in chapter
15, showing his care and compassion for the people. Verse 5 is one where he
prays for the people to join together to serve God. Verse 13 he is praying for
joy and hope. Finally in verse 33 he prays for peace to all. Prayers I believe
we are need prayed over us each and every week.
Verse 15:16 shows Paul’s focus is more for
“gentiles” than it is for Jews:
His grace makes
me who I am, a minister of the Anointed One, Jesus, called to serve the
nations. The good news of God is the focus of my priestly work. In effect,
these nations have become an offering to God, totally acceptable, indeed made
holy by the work of the Holy Spirit.
The beauty of Jesus’ sacrifice was it was
not isolated to just the Jewish people, but all peoples of the world. Like we
saw in yesterday’s reading in Matthew, the king had a wedding and he eventually
opened the door for all, since most of his “honored” guests rejected his
invitation. Think about how many Jewish people today reject the fact Jesus is
the Messiah, or for this version “the Anointed One”. He has the invite out to
all, and our job is to show as many as we can the true loving salvation of his
grace.
Finally I just have to touch on much of
chapter 16 with a specific focus on verse 16:1:
I commend to you
our beloved sister Phoebe; she serves the church in Cenchrea as a faithful
deacon.
You don’t know how many times I hear that
“men” are selected as leaders of the Church, while Paul clearly demonstrates
here that is not the case. Throughout the Bible we see women leaders, yet many
believe this is for leading other women and not the “body” of the church. At
the same time as I am writing this I get concerned for those reading it in
churches where this is doctrine and often preached that I may be shaking their
faith. I want to be clear on this, I am not judging but rather commenting. On
this your heart is the judge, if you truly believe God does not want women leading
men then that is your faith. At the same time neither “camps” should be judging
the other or criticizing, but rather being joyous that their view is from God.
Now at the same time the “truth” seekers
would call this “relativism” where suddenly anything may be allowed in church.
I disagree since these decisions are of the Holy Spirit. If someone is an
alcoholic then their “doctrine” would be no drink and they would seek churches
that do not promote this at all. In the case of social drinkers, they may
consider this “doctrine” backwards.
Scripture is clear that the disciples drank wine and it is also clear
that we should not get drunk. So if a church does not want alcoholics to
stumble, the doctrine of no drink is foundational in scripture since they do
not want their brother to stumble. They actually are doing what Paul is
preaching …
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