UBF Daily Bread

ACCEP ONE ANOTHER IN CHRIST JESUS

Passage: Romans 15:1~13

Key verse: 7

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak^(A) and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,^(B) to build them up.^(C) ³For even Christ did not please himself^(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a]^(E) ⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,^(F) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind^(G) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify^(H) the God and Father^(I) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another,^(J) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b]^(K) on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises^(L) made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹and, moreover, that the Gentiles^(M) might glorify God^(N) for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”^[c]^(O)

¹⁰Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”^[d]^(P)

¹¹And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”^[e]^(Q)

¹²And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse^(R) will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”^[f]^(S)

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace^(T) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.^(U)

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Footnotes

Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9
Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint)

1. Bear with the failings of the weak (1-7)

Paul encourages his readers to follow Christ's example in our relationship with others. Especially, when we come across a Christian whose faith is weak, we should bear with their failings. That is what Christ did. He wasn't selfish. He did not please himself, but he built others up. Paul prayed that God would give the believers in Rome a spirit of unity as they followed Christ. The end result of which would be the glorification of God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. So, let us accept one another. Christ accepted us, even as dirty sinners as we are. So we should accept our brothers and sisters, for the praise and glory of God.

2. The Gentiles will hope in Christ (8-13)

Jesus came as a Jew in order to save, first the Jews. But the Jews rejected him and crucified him. So, God sent the gospel to the Gentiles. God who was the hope of the Jews also became the hope of the Gentiles. The Gentiles accepted the gospel and came to the praises of God, in fulfillment of God's word in the Old Testament.

Prayer: Lord, grant us a spirit of unity between brothers and sisters. Help us to give praise to you.

One Word: Jesus brings us all into unity