Paul hasn't finished telling us how to handle the problem of different viewpoints, especially where a Christian brother's faith is not very strong. The Living Bible paraphrases part of verse 1, "We must bear the burden of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others." It is so easy to be critical and selfish or even hard on other believers. It is easy to think that their devotion is not as good as our own. Sometimes our patience with them runs very thin. Paul says that what our fellow-Christian needs is our help, our love, and our acceptance, not our criticism. It is very easy for the particular person to feel ignored or rejected. That is not the Spirit of Christ. No doubt Christ could have avoided some of the people who questioned Him or those who could be called "problem people". But He had gone out of His way to help the poor, the needy, the blind, the leper, the deaf, and the demon-possessed. How patient He was with those whose faith was weak. His own twelve disciples must have been almost a disappointment at times, but He kept faith with them all. If you read His prayer in John 17, you will be surprised how warmly He spoke of those men. He thinks of us in the same way. What is everyone looking for? What does a school child want? Acceptance. (v.7) What does an adolescent look for? Acceptance. What do newcomers long for when they come to your church? Acceptance. What does each of us want most of all on the human level? Acceptance. Look at verse 7 again and begin practicing acceptance of those whom you know or meet. What is the standard in all of this? Verse 7 "Open your hearts to one another as Christ opened His heart to you." (Philippians) A VERSE FOR TODAY: Can you complete this verse? "By this shall all men know..." |
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