Verses 1-2: We
who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him
up.
So much of my life is spent
thinking about my life; what I need to do today, what’s on my calendar this
week, what I want to eat for this or that meal. My lists are
endless.
What pricks my attention in
these opening verses is the thought given for other people. The strong not
pleasing self but bearing with others. The prick became even stronger in verse
2, Paul expands the thought calling each of us to please and build up our
neighbor.
Living for the benefit of
others, pleasing others rather than self, building others up… these are not
natural inclination of my thoughts or heart. They require the effort of
reorienting my life daily, hourly, even moment by moment to put others before
myself.
This is hard. This is God’s
call…
Oh, God, I so
need Your help to live this way, the way You direct. It is counter intuitive and
counter to my human nature. I know You have given me Your Holy Spirit, so I am
not on my own to do this and live this way. Unfortunately, I do not listen well.
HELP!
HELP me to
overcome my ‘selfish me’ and live out of the presence of Your Holy Spirit. This
I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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