Encouraged by the Scriptures

Christian Commitment
in Today's World
Romans 15:1-6 (The Message)

 ^1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
 ^3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

For Reflection

It's not just a matter of doing the right thing; if we can ever figure out what that is!  It's a matter of responding to the love and call of God. What does it mean to look after the good of the people around us?  To me, it is not a matter of the Holy Gotcha!  It's more a matter of warm personal support in the direction God calls us to go.  How is it for you?

Pray to become a member of the choir of those who provide steady constant calling and warm personal counsel rooted in scripture and the mediating love and grace of God.