Romans 15
In preparing this week’s notes I found myself constantly distracted and absorbed in the issues that have plagued me over the past few weeks. I’m not sure if I handle stress the right way but it’s the only way I know how and I usually get by just fine… eventually. I have to confess that I was not in the right frame of mind when I first read and listened to this chapter. Work was still reeling in my mind and I wanted so much to vegetate but then I remembered something a friend told me just the other day. She simply said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b, NKJV)..
I looked that verse up and the whole thing reads, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Now, I fully realized the context from which I am taking this passage and also that my daily work-related stress is far from the tribulations experienced by the disciples and other first and second century believers. But when I’m in the midst of the mental mud and the problems just can’t get resolved, my mind jumps into overdrive and the proverbial fight or flight instinct manifests itself.
When I’m in this mode, I forget a lot about how I should act in certain situations and sometimes react in a way that is not pleasing to God. And it’s in these situations I should be relying on God to pull me through the trial or test so that He might be glorified. I read The Message paraphrase of verses 1-3 and saw the connection. “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. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” 3 That’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.”
How many people do you know who are struggling at work? Do you know why? I mean the real reason. Maybe there’s something just under the surface that nobody knows about that’s eating them from the inside out. It could be doubts in abilities, troubles at home, a secret sin that they’re ashamed of, etc. The point is that they have been weakened by those things and their faith is suffering because of it. When we let down our shield of faith the fiery darts of the enemy hit their mark causing us to doubt or condemn ourselves. Paul is telling us that we need to be on the lookout for such situations and make ourselves available to them to provide strength and encouragement during their tribulation. There’s more people around you than you realize who are unnecessarily struggling who would benefit greatly by the lending of an ear or shoulder. This would please God very much because it’s something that Christ did while on earth and we should be striving to become more like Him who saved us. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (NKJV)
Bring peace to troubled heart this week. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” (John 16:33a, NKJV)
