Romans 15:1-13

Romans 15:1-13
This chapter continues the subject of Romans 14. "We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this." (gray areas) Paul obviously thought of himself at one of the strong ones, but he was willing to make concessions to weaker believers. He says it's our job to help them do right and grow in the Lord. This takes maturity. It's a mark of immaturity when a believer refuses to consider the feelings of others or tries to get others to defy their consciences. Christ is our example, v. 3, as He lived to please God and help others.

In v. 5-6 Paul prays for the Roman church that God, who gives this patience and encouragement, would help them to live in complete harmony with each other. He says this is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then they with one voice would be able to give praise and glory to God. This would be a wonderful prayer for all local churches to pray. The petty squabbles that divide so many congregations much surely grieve the Lord! And not only that, but these church fights and splits and troubles give lost people fodder for criticism and excuses for rejecting Christ.

Paul then goes on to encourage them to accept one another. The Life Application Study Bible has this note about vv. 5-7. "The Roman church was a diverse community. It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, rich and poor, strong and weak. So it was difficult for them to accept one another. Accepting means taking people into our homes as well as into our hearts, sharing meals and activities, avoiding racial and economic discrimination, and going out of our way to avoid favoritism." The quotations found in vv.9-12 come from the Old Testament and show us that God loves everyone, and He shows no favoritism.

He ends this section with another prayer for the Roman believers, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Whenever we come upon a prayer in the Word of God, we can pray these very things for ourselves and for those fellow believers around us.