Bookends of Discipleship

Romans 15:1 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Romans 15:7 (NIV) Accept one another, the, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

These two verses serve as bookends, holding the content between them in place. We are to strive, not to please ourselves, but to bring praise to God. This is discipleship in action. The strength referred to here is faith.  We who are strong [in faith] ought to bear with those who aren't yet there. We are to come alongside and work with them because that is the example Jesus gave.

The five verses in between instruct us in how to do this. Each of us should please his neighbor, build him up. (v2) How often do we not even know our neighbor? Do we not even speak with him? Not because we are unfriendly, we just don't make it a priority.  Worse than that, we don't give them another thought. When convicted about this I have to stop and consider the tired but worthwhile phrase, "what would Jesus do?"  

So, what would Jesus do? Jesus would love them.  For us, we can begin by simply acknowledging we have neighbors. We can wave and call out a friendly greeting. We can strike up a conversation when we see them in their yard.  We can be kind and generous with our time. A smile and warm greeting go along way to building a relationship. 

Jesus didn't force himself on the crowds, He made himself available. We should do no less.

Read Romans 15:1-7 at www.biblegateway.com or in your own Bible.