Lesson 443

(Lesson 443)(11-01-12) Romans 15:1-7, "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."

There are few lessons in the New Testament that, in my opinion, can be equally directed toward the modern "Christian" than this text.

Paul, very clearly, expresses the responsibility charged to those of us who "have" toward those among us who "have not". We are responsible for the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters without exception and without complaint.
We, modern day "Christians", have in large part, instead of taking it upon ourselves to seek out those who are weak and in need wherever they are, remained parked in comfortable pews while waiting for the lost and those in need, to come to us. This group includes far to many of us and has gone on far, far too long.

I certainly don't mean to imply that there are none who take it upon themselves to go the extra mile. Its just that they are few and far between.

In reference to, what I believe represents modern Christianity, the example of the Church of the Laodicians Rev. 3:14-22, I believe The Holy Spirit gives us fair warning, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

The gospel demands only two things of us: One is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all that we have, the other is to faithfully tend his sheep.

It greatly behooves us to turn away from rituals, disagreements and false securities and gather all our strength toward diligently teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, and secondly, ministering to the needs of others, being careful to do it all toward the honor and glory of God.~