“We who are strong OUGHT TO BEAR WITH THE FAILINGS OF THE WEAK and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past WAS WRITTEN TO TEACH US, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement GIVE YOU THE SAME ATTITUDE OF MIND TOWARD EACH OTHER THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD, so that with one mind and one voice YOU MAY GLORIFY THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (Rom. 15:1-6)
We saw in Romans 14, Paul expects Christians to live at peace with one another. Not everyone in the church has attained the same level of spiritual maturity, and some people do not yet understand the full extent of THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY IN CHRIST. These “weaker” brothers may have consciences where God has left us free, and they may believe certain activities are sinful for them even though such things are in themselves not wrong. So, we need to hold them up in prayer and…
BE THANKFUL FOR OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST…
-Bill Stockham