Welcome Each Other as Christ Welcomed You
Daily Scripture
Romans 14:13-19, 15:1-7
13 So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. 15 If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. 17 God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval.
19 So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up….
15:1 We who are powerful need to be patient with the weakness of those who don’t have power, and not please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good in order to build them up. 3 Christ didn’t please himself, but, as it is written, The insults of those who insulted you fell on me [Psalm 69:9]. 4 Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. 6 That way you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ together with one voice.
7 So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Paul’s masterful letter to Roman Christians went to a set of smaller house churches—gatherings more like today’s small groups (Romans 16:3-5). These early believers didn’t always agree on how best to live their faith. It’s okay to differ on the details, Paul said. The central, non-negotiable demand is to “build each other up” in love.
- Paul wrote, “Welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you.” Does that not set a high, serious standard? Yet consider this: Christ welcomed even a woman caught in adultery and a thief on a cross. Does his model actually set an unexpectedly low barrier for acceptance? Which challenges you more—the height or the accessibility of Christ’s welcoming love?
- Scholar N. T. Wright noted that Paul was saying, “Don’t pass judgment on each other—but do use your judgment in not tripping each other up!” * In other words, having strong personal convictions is fine; using them to hurt someone who does things differently isn’t. How did Paul call on believers, as members of the family of faith, to act toward each other?
Prayer
Dear God, when I behave in ways that fall short of your dreams for my life, you offer me your grace and accepting love. You call me to treat others the same way you’ve treated me. Help me to keep living into that calling. Amen.
GPS Insights
Mikiala Tennie
Mikiala Tennie, who serves as the Student Discipleship Program Director with Resurrection Students, wrote today’s Insight. She has nearly 20 years of ministry experience and loves encouraging others in their spiritual journey. Mikiala is blessed to be an adoptive aunt and godmother to many kiddos and lives with her 10-pound Yorkie, KiKi Okoye Tennie.
I took a quick trip to California to meet my newest (7 weeks old!) niece. She’s absolutely precious! I had visited her older sister (2 years old) a few months prior, to spend time just the two of us before this special new addition to the family. Back then, when I joined her in the car, she smiled brightly and waved and greeted me with a cheery, “Hi Auntie!”
But now, for this visit, I wasn’t sure how I would be received—it was first thing in the morning and it had been months since she’d seen me last. I used to be a nanny so I understand that every kid is different and waking up to different people than they’re used to could potentially cause a meltdown.
When my brother and I opened her bedroom door I said a tentative “hi!” and hoped for the best. She peeked around her bedroom door, spotted me, smiled and then immediately gave me a hug! Woohoo, this was success! I bent down and rubbed her back as she squeezed my legs. She took a couple of steps back, looked up at me and then hugged me once more! We broke apart and then she came back for a third hug and by that point I was ready for it and knelt down to her height for full bear hug! I was a puddle and completely overwhelmed with joy and honestly, if I could bottle that feeling and access it when life starts lifing, I think I’d be much better off! Getting a welcome like that from a tiny person after a long time apart has healing properties.
When I picture the way Jesus welcomes each of us—with full affirmation of our dignity, worth, and inherent value—I think the closest I can get to understanding it is the welcome my niece gave me. Romans 15:7 exhorts us all: “So welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you, for God’s glory.” If we can all harness the love Christ has for us and in turn use it to welcome each other, I just know we’ll start solving the issues of dissonance and anger we see all around us. I pray that today, you would welcome those you see with the love of Christ, no matter how difficult. My niece and I believe in you!
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N. T., Paul for Everyone: Romans, Part Two: Chapters 9-16 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 105). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
