Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

Two days ago we looked at the promise that we are super conquerors.  We have been made strong as a gift of God.  So let’s ask, why did God give us His strength.  Paul provides an answer in Romans 15:1—“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” 

            With strength comes responsibility. Spiritual strength is not given so that we can please ourselves.  It is given to enable us to bear the weaknesses of those without strength.  We are not called to tolerate those who are weak, we are called to assist them as they struggle under their loads. 

            Paul elaborates further in verse two—“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”  This is a radical way of living.  In fact, it is diametrically opposed to the popular credo—“look out for number one.”  Being strong for others is a lifestyle modeled by Christ.  That is precisely what Paul says in verse 3—“For even Christ did not please Himself.”  The servant is not above His master. 

            You were made strong to bear the weaknesses of others. 

Prayer.  Thank you for giving me supernatural strength.  Forgive me when I expend it selfishly on myself.  Amen.

Occasionally I encounter people who claim that they are Christians and yet argue that they don’t need or desire fellowship with other believers.  They argue that their faith is solely a private matter between them and God.  While it is true that each individual must be born again through a personal relationship with Christ, it is equally true that we are born into a family. 

            This is precisely what Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans—“We who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another” (12:5).  On several occasions Paul compares the Christian community to the human body to illustrate that our individual faith has a corporate side. 

            Paul takes the illustration a step further by indicating that we are members of one another.  This means that all Christians are interrelated and interdependent by virtue of our relationship with Christ.  Thus when I am separated from the body I am incomplete without the other members and I am of no value to the proper functioning of the body.  We must understand and acknowledge that we need each other. 

            Have you found your place in Christ’s body of believers, the church?  God has designed you with purpose, redeemed you by His grace, and placed you in His body with intentionality (1 Cor. 12:18). 

Prayer.  Thank you for my salvation and for my family.  Help me to become more productive in my relationship with other family members.  Amen