Day 35: Romans 15: 1-13: Build Others Up

Following Jesus means learning to serve and strengthen others.

Paul calls stronger believers to help carry the burdens of others instead of only pleasing themselves. Jesus becomes the example. Christ did not live selfishly- He served others and endured suffering for their sake. 

Paul reminds believers that Scripture gives encouragement and hope, helping us remain faithful together. And ultimately, God's plan always included both Jews and Gentiles worshipping Him together through Christ.

Reflect: Who around you may need encouragement, patience, or support right now?

Dig Deeper: How does Jesus model selfless love and unity?

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Happy Friday, everyone. Welcome to day 35 in our Romans devotion study. Today our theme is build others up, and our chapter is now starting at 15, Romans 15, verses 1 through 13. Some questions to think about today as we reflect on our passage are who around you may need encouragement, patience, or support right now? How does Jesus model selfless love and unity? Let's read our text. Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice. Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name. Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles with his people. And again, praise the Lord all you Gentiles, let all the peoples praise him. And again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles, the Gentiles will hope in him. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We're gonna have to come back to that and read that last verse as a prayer at the end of this devotion today. In this passage, Paul is now bringing the conversation back to community and maturity. He's saying that stronger believers should help carry the weaknesses of others. That's important because spiritual maturity is not measured mainly by knowledge, it's measured by love. In the Roman church, there were tensions between different backgrounds, convictions, and maturity levels. And Paul keeps pushing believers away from selfishness and toward service. He points to Jesus as the example. Christ did not please himself. That's the model. Jesus consistently moved toward people with patience, mercy, and sacrifice. And Paul reminds believers that Scripture itself gives encouragement and hope. It definitely did today. Meaning the Bible is not just information, it is formation. It should form us, it should transform us, it should build us. God uses it to strengthen people over time. And then Paul zooms out and shows something truly beautiful. God's plan was always bigger than one group. Jews and Gentiles worshipping together fulfilled what the Old Testament had pointed toward all along. That unity would have looked radical in Rome, where division between ethnic groups was normal and common. Even in today's culture, unity still stands out. Especially in a culture built around division, outrage, and comparison. Paul's vision is a church shaped by patience, humility, encouragement, and worship centered on Christ. Not perfect people, transformed people learning to love like Jesus. Oof. Makes me think of the song More Like Jesus. Look it up on Spotify. So good. Um and a song I love to sing almost as a prayer, right? Um, during my own worship time. But today hits home and I love that we're heading into the weekend. God, I just I pray that we learn to be encouragers, that we learn to be patient. I know I need that, Lord, but I've been warned not to ask for patience. I don't want trials. So just putting it out there. Uh I just we love you, God. Thank you for your scriptures, that your scriptures are here to encourage us, that we can go back to the Old Testament and always see what you were saying that probably wasn't even understood at the time. But now we have the knowledge of what Christ has come and done, of his life and of his death and resurrection, Lord. And knowing that to read the Bible is just such a beautiful picture of your love for us. And if you could love me, despite the fact that I am a sinner, Lord, then help me see others the way you view me. Help me see them in light of that, Lord, and not in light of my own selfishness. Lord, as we close, may this be a blessing to everyone who is listening today. Romans 15, verse 13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Move today, Holy Spirit. And we praise and honor your name in Jesus' holy and precious name, Amen. See you Monday.