As Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Romans, Paul focuses the readers hearts back to the three primary principles of being Godly. First, we are to bear the burdens of those less fortunate than us. My wife and I were reading scripture this morning and were drawn to the story of a certain leper. He fell before Jesus and pled, “If you are willing you can make me clean!” The next verse is as compelling as any scripture in the Book. It says, Jesus was moved in His inner most part with compassion, reached out and touched the unclean outcast leper and said, “I am willing!” The leper was immediately cleansed!
Jesus met this man in his most vulnerable state, touched him, showing no concern of his leprosy, and healed him completely reversing his shame and restoring his place in society. What a world changing moment. “Eggo Emi” the great I AM was willing to change the course of this man’s history for no other reason than that Jesus loved the leper!
We are called to literally be moved with that compassion for our fellow sojourners in their need. We are to reach out and reverse their histories. That brings us to the second part, we do this with Christ’s attitude. We give and serve out of a humble spirit. We empty ourselves of our personal interest and from the compassion that only the Holy Spirit can provide, we do what we are called to with the heart of the Savior!
Finally, as God often saves the best for last, we are to serve for God’s glory! When we step out and serve and give of ourselves, we must not be looking for or longing for personal acclaim. Our hearts and minds need to be focused on bringing God the glory. When, in the fast-paced flurry of life, we do selfless acts; then, we can sometimes forget that it is for God’s acclaim and not our own.
Make no mistake, we will never be able to out serve or out give the Lord. He has, is and will always meet our needs and then some! Still, the enemy will try to twist our efforts to somehow make them about US rather than God.
When that happens, we lose the true blessing. When acting for His glory, we have no pressure to perform, nor do we have to achieve some predetermined outcome. God works His plan, in His time, for the outcome He pre-determined since before the words, “Let there be light!”
We serve the less fortunate in God’s way, for God’s glory. That is Paul’s encouragement to these people and to us. When we do, we will be fulfilling God’s plan and we will be amazed at the things that God will do!
God Bless You!
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 4 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.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”[c]
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d]
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”[e]
Walking With God 