Restoring Our Strength #9

As Paul was talking to the Romans about the practical implications of the Gospel, he spoke to them about strength and weakness:

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Notice here the connection between endurance and encouragement. Those who are strong are challenged to encourage those who are weak.  In context, this is especially in a spiritual sense of holding to our convictions as followers of Christ, without judging those whose faith has not developed in some area. But last month when many of us were weak - physically, emotionally and mentally drained, we found ourselves longing to be able to do something to encourage one another - that any strength we had, given by God, we wanted to pool together to help and encourage the weakest among us. We wanted to live, and to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Where does that come from? It is the very character of Christ, Who did not come to please Himself. It is the very character of God, Who is the God of endurance and encouragement. He is the God Who gives strength for us to share with one another.