Welcome each other… the way 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
If you choose to worship and serve at Resurrection, you may automatically think of a big building when you hear or read the word “church.” But Paul’s letters (including his masterful letter to Roman Christians) went to a set of smaller “house churches” (cf. Romans 16:3-5—more like the gatherings we call “small groups”). They 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.
- “Welcome each other, in the same way that Christ also welcomed you.” In what ways does that set a high, serious standard? On the other hand, could you see Christ’s model as setting a “low” norm for acceptance, one even a woman caught in adultery or a thief on a cross could pass? Which do you find more challenging: the “height” or the “lowness” of Paul’s standard of relating to each other “in the same way that Christ also welcomed you”?
- Scholar N. T. Wright summed up Romans 14:13 this way: “Don’t pass judgment on each other–but do use your judgment in not tripping each other up!” * How do you see the difference between having your own tastes or opinions, even strongly held ones, and hurtfully passing judgment on someone who does things differently than you would? 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
Blake Thomas
Blake Thomas serves as a Connection & Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood. He joined the Resurrection staff in July 2020, serving as Director of Student Ministries at Resurrection West before moving to the pastoral care team in 2023. Blake earned a double B.A. in Youth Ministry and Bible & Theology from North Park University, and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He was commissioned as a Provisional Elder of the Great Plains Annual Conference in June 2022. Blake is married to Gwyn, who serves as the Donor Development Specialist at Resurrection, and they recently welcomed their first child, Della. Blake enjoys backpacking, reading, and connecting with people over a cup of coffee.
I have been spending a lot of time at playgrounds this summer. I have a one-year-old… this isn’t the “prime” playground age yet… but I want my daughter to get comfortable with the swings, slides, and the other children playing so that when she is a bit older, she can enjoy all the fun that a playground offers. Most playgrounds are very similar. Most have a slide, monkey bars, and a swing set. However, some playgrounds don’t have a gate, which presents an added fear of children running off. Some playgrounds only have one type of swing, which keeps toddlers or persons with disabilities from swinging. Some playgrounds have a slide too tall for a toddler (or their parents) to go down. As an able-bodied person, I never thought about any of these things until I had a child of my own. Now I realize that even a playground can present barriers for individuals.
In my search for local playgrounds to visit, I discovered the Inclusive Playground at Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village, KS. This playground is considered inclusive because it is specifically designed for children with disabilities, small toddlers, or those who might experience other barriers found at most playgrounds. The playground is fenced, it has a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, the slides are wider, and all the equipment is lower to the ground. CLICK HERE for an article with more about it.
Today’s Scripture passage says, “Never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister.” When I think of a stumbling block being removed, I think about the inclusive playground at Meadowbrook Park. The intention was to create a safe and welcoming space for all children, regardless of their abilities, so that anyone could have fun at a playground without any questions about whether or not they could participate. Communion is another example of a barrier being removed. In the Methodist tradition, we practice an open communion table, which means that anyone regardless of their tradition or relationship with God is invited to partake in this meal of grace. Jesus is the prime example of removing the “stumbling blocks” so anyone can experience the righteousness and peace he offers.
This week I challenge you to reflect on the “stumbling blocks” that exist in your community and consider ways in which you might dismantle them in an effort to resemble Jesus. How can you create a more open and judgment-free environment for those around you? Perhaps it is advocating for policy changes in your company. Perhaps it is offering a vegetarian or gluten-free option at your next family BBQ. Perhaps it is visiting an inclusive playground with your grandchildren. Jesus calls us to live in a judgment-free world where all can experience his love. Therefore, let us look for big, and small, ways that we can be advocates for a love that glorifies God.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
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.
