Objective-in-Jesus: See through the Fault
By Jon Walker
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1 (NIV)
When we see someone straying from the faith, instead of judging him, our objective is to see through his “faulty” appearance, and try to understand the reason for his drift from the faith.
And then we need to be ready to address the needs and concerns God reveals to us. Both Paul and James teach that those strong in courage are to take their courage to the weak. Those living in the Spirit are to pursue and restore those who’ve slipped back into living the old, worldly ways, once abandoned for Christ (Romans 14–15; Galatians 6; James 5).
We prepare ourselves to “lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” (Romans 15:1–2 MSG).
We encourage people to accept their individuality (to be themselves) and yet reject individualism (living for themselves). It is that acceptance—the way Christ accepted us—that encouraged us toward spiritual maturity; we now offer this acceptance that reflects the heart of Jesus.
We can encourage those slipping away through worship: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV).
By faithfully reorganizing life around God, we’re able to stimulate and energize others to re-affirm him as the beginning, present, and future of all that is (Romans 11:36), “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36 NIV).
If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.
