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by Sandy Shaw
Romans Chapter 15 verses 1to 16 – Having looked at Chapters 12to 14 a few months ago, now we are reading of how this dear man Paul had one great concern in his heart for The Church of Jesus Christ - that of Peace and Harmony.
He had so many concerns - for truth and love and the flowing of The Holy Spirit but - Paul is concerned for the unity of the fellowship - that God’s people be one - that no unnecessary division be allowed.
Some divisions are necessary. If another gospel is preached - then division is right and proper and necessary - divide from those who preach another gospel - or who deny the fundamental beliefs of the gospel - or where immoral behaviour is a scandal to the gospel. “Let him be to you a Gentile.” said Jesus.
Paul deals with here - spiritual divisions - racial divisions - geographical divisions.
Firstly, this potential division between strong and weak. That should not cause division - and the responsibility lies upon the stronger believer. The one who is free in the Spirit. He should deal with the tension when it arises.
The strong - the robust - and the weak - should stay together. Consider the weak brother and what he does not feel free to do.
Weak brothers can feel guilty - can feel misled - could be hurt - and he can feel held back in his progress.
Pleasing other people is NOT doing what they want - but to do what a man needs - not what he wants - but what will do him good - to build him up - and help him.
What is for my weaker brother’s good? Ask that at times - it is not an easy question to answer. But consider it.
There are times when it is not only what you can do - but what you can bear.
Who can you lift up? Who can you support?
Paul was an apostle - apostles are not people above us lording it over us - but under us supporting us - like the foundation of a wall.
The names of the apostles are in the foundations of the walls of the new Jerusalem which speaks of supporting what is above - holding people up - building up the body of Christ - giving security to the disciples of Jesus in the fellowship of The Holy Spirit. Revelation 21verse 14 .
What will strengthen the weaker brother - the more immature brother - to meet his needs - not just what he wants? Not an easy question to answer at times. Some do not want to mature.
If you do this and follow this policy, you will get into trouble - you will become unpopular.
Jesus did not please Himself - but Jesus came to do what people needed - and people put Him on a Cross.
Offering people the Gospel is what our neighbour needs - but they may not want us to say these things - they may not want to hear about Jesus Christ. So what do we do? Are we to give up? No. We need to go on faithfully - even when reproach comes back at you - but continue to go on - sensitively. People don’t appreciate it - they don’t understand - and we can feel discouraged. We need someone or something to encourage us.
“Our Loving Father – strengthen us – lift us up – uphold us when we feel things are getting us down. Our Gracious God, fill us with the Holy Spirit – empower and encourage us – and as we read the Scriptures day by day, feed us and nourish us spiritually and emotionally and physically – in every way – through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord and King. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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