Week of June 8

The Chronicler writes, “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11). There is a strength in the Lord that enables His children to thrive. God’s divine supply provides us with all that we need to flourish in life, if we will place our faith in Him. Hang on to this thought. We will see in our focal chapter today how easy it is to struggle in the Christian life when we fail to seek the Father’s face in our church community relationships.

In this focal chapter, Paul carries forward a discussion that he began in chapter 14. There are folks he called “strong,” whose “clear consciences” permitted them to partake of food that had been held to be ceremonially unclean. Some of the Jewish Christians in Rome probably had been reluctant to give up certain “ceremonial aspects of their religious heritage” (NAC). They felt internal conflict between their Christian faith and Old Testament regulations, while others no longer felt such constraints (see 14:1-4). Paul referred to the first group as “weak” (14:1) and the second group as “strong” (15:1). The terms he used do not indicate that he was being judgmental, but only descriptive, suggesting that the goal is strength of faith. Get it?

Freedom binds us together in love. Paul was stressing the principle that even though a believer was free from the ceremonial law, he or she was not free from the law of love. Here is where many contemporary Christians leave the bus. They are along for the ride of love until they must give up their seat to another believer. Some of these Christians in Rome did not like being required to “bear the weaknesses of the immature” (15:1). We may learn much from Paul’s injunction because it teaches us that we need one another, even those whose faith is not robust (cf. Galatians 6:1-2; NAC). Christian maturity is the goal in mind with all of this “towel and basin” service (15:2). Christ is the supply source for utilizing our freedom in this way. 

Freedom comes from God’s gift to us in Christ. Paul provides two powerful arguments to motivate us to pursue this type of fellowship with our church communities. First, you and I know that the best example of this is Jesus Christ (15:3). He denied Himself, took up the cross, and died for us when we were weak and incapable of shedding our sins. Jesus did not lay out the plan of His life to please Himself, and neither should we (Mark 10:45). Secondly, everything that was written in the Scripture in “days gone by” was written for us. It bears relevance today; therefore, we are to apply it to our contemporary circumstances.  Thirdly, we are to note the source of this ability to become united. This unity in self-sacrifice is not achieved by our efforts, but by God’s gift (15:5).

Freedom to unite around the desire to seek God’s presence. Paul goes well beyond this point when he states, quite literally, “mind the same thing among one another” (15:5; NAC). He was not telling them to practice unanimity, or even uniformity, but instead to allow God’s Spirit to guide the conscience of one another toward a unified perspective. In other words, seek the Father’s face together. Jesus Christ is the model and is to be our perspective. Much of the silliness that separates us dissolves whenever we take on the heart and eyes and hands of Christ in our relationships toward other believers.

Much behind-the scenes work goes into our publications at the Baptist Center for Global Concerns. Everything flows from a collaborative environment based upon a common goal to share Christ’s peace with every human life. We are a two-generational team, meaning that Baby Boomers and Millennials decide upon everything: picture pixelation, newsletter and devotional borders, fonts, copy edits, and even content suggestions! We are at peace with one another, so each published piece serves to spread the Peace that reigns over our organization (Ephesians 2:14). Paul reminds us of a key moral side to Christian decision-making: use your freedom wisely

1. Perhaps there are a few hang ups among the “weaker” Christians in your church that exhaust your spiritual “strength” and patience. To all who are “weak” that may read this devotional, be grateful to God that He has provided those who are strong to help you as you grow in your faith. Seek to grow strong in the faith. All will benefit by taking a long drink from Christ’s cup of sacrifice to be refreshed. Love the weaker and stronger among you.

2. For Families: A good way to apply this devotional message is to have a conversation together, with a pad of paper and pencil handy. Gather the family and begin by making a list of every person. For each person around the table, name one thing or activity that would be considered a strength. Now name something else that might be considered a weakness. Make sure at least one strength and weakness is jotted down for each person.

Now apply this passage to your family’s life and see how these strengths are being used. Does each stronger family member willingly volunteer to help another weaker member? Does everyone have someone upon whom they can depend, and from whom they can ask help? This kind of care for one another shows how wise and mature Christians use their God-given freedom. It is true in our church families, too. Challenge your family to look around this week to see how they can put their strengths to good use at home and at church. Come back together at the end of the week and report on what you did and the results you observed.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock