August 1
Romans 15:1-22
The general morality of our day is that we can do whatever we want if it does not hurt anyone else. Though this may sound reasonable on the surface, God calls us to a far higher standard than simply not doing harm. He calls us to “please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself.”
God’s ethic is to be willing to sacrifice and serve others. We are to ask ourselves whether we are helping others, not avoiding harm. Notice the major contrast between the ideas of the world and the ideas of God. One view says do whatever you want and live for your own pleasure, with only minimal restrictions. On the other hand, God tells us to love, to please, and to serve others. We are to consider what is best for others and not simply what is easiest or most convenient for us. The ultimate model for this is Jesus. He willingly laid down his life for us. The eternal Son of God came as a servant and always lived for others rather than himself. This is the attitude we are to take. We are to live for the glory of God and the good of others. So, we pursue unity, accept one another, serve, and instruct one another. May this be the way we live today and every day.
Father God, help me to live to please others for their good. Help me to seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by being a servant. Amen.
Why is it so easy to live to please ourselves rather than God and others?
The general morality of our day is that we can do whatever we want if it does not hurt anyone else. Though this may sound reasonable on the surface, God calls us to a far higher standard than simply not doing harm. He calls us to “please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself.”
God’s ethic is to be willing to sacrifice and serve others. We are to ask ourselves whether we are helping others, not avoiding harm. Notice the major contrast between the ideas of the world and the ideas of God. One view says do whatever you want and live for your own pleasure, with only minimal restrictions. On the other hand, God tells us to love, to please, and to serve others. We are to consider what is best for others and not simply what is easiest or most convenient for us. The ultimate model for this is Jesus. He willingly laid down his life for us. The eternal Son of God came as a servant and always lived for others rather than himself. This is the attitude we are to take. We are to live for the glory of God and the good of others. So, we pursue unity, accept one another, serve, and instruct one another. May this be the way we live today and every day.
Father God, help me to live to please others for their good. Help me to seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by being a servant. Amen.
Why is it so easy to live to please ourselves rather than God and others?
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