Consider Our Example

Romans 15:1-7

In his letter about training people for ministry, Paul describes specific requirements that indicate whether a person is truly spirit filled, as qualifications for pastors or bishops. One of those is that he not be insist on having his own way. “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, …” (Titus 1:7). The spiritual man will be concerned about others, both about what they need, and what they want. Giving up his own desires will not require much thought if he has the attitude(mind) of Christ.

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Romans 15:1-3)

In the Garden just before his crucifixion in Luke 22:42, Jesus prayed, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He knew what he faced, yet as Philippians 2:8 tells us, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Though he is the very creator of the world, he allowed the Jews and Romans to have their own way, as if he were unable to stop them. Titus 2:14 tells us, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” He did so because of what he hoped to accomplish in our lives.

Jesus Christ is the primary of what we should be like as I Peter 2:21 states. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” Hebrews 12:3 instructs us, “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” In addition, we have records of what happened in many other peoples lives in the Old Testament. I Corinthians 10:11 states, “ Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” We can trust God even if others do wrong. Our hope doesn’t depend on what others do.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

As we allow the Holy Spirit to produce his fruit in us, “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:…” (Galatians 5:22-23), the failures of others will not greatly upset us, producing only a feeling of compassion for their ignorance. There will be no reason for anger or conflict.

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:5-7)

If we are to please God, we are going to have to overlook and forgive those who don’t measure up to our standards. In Ephesians 4;1-3 Paul instructs, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” He goes even further in Colossians 3:13. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”