Friday, December 9
You’re welcome
Scripture: Hosea 13-14, Psalm 142, Romans 15
Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.
Observation
Paul begins this section on finding harmony when we disagree with Romans 14:1. “Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.” In between the “welcome” of 14:1 and the “welcome” of 15:7, Paul gives very practical advice on how to love others, put them before yourself, be slow to judge but quick to sacrifice, particularly on “disputable matters”—those secondary issues on which we may disagree.
Paul’s goal was that we would live in harmony, even when we disagree. One key to this harmony is welcome. The Greek word is proslambano which is literally “to take to oneself”, thus to receive, accept, welcome. It was used of welcoming someone into your home. It was used in Acts 28 of the inhabitants of Malta welcoming Paul and the other shipwrecked passengers. It was used by Paul to encourage Philemon to “welcome him (Onesimus) as you would welcome me.”
In Romans 15:7, Paul takes it a big step forward: welcome one another as Jesus has welcomed you…to the glory of God. Do you think Jesus agreed with everything about you? Not even close. He welcomed you anyway. That sort of welcome brings glory to God.
Application
What is our usual posture toward those with whom we disagree? It is to reject not accept, to avoid not welcome. It takes a great deal of grace to welcome those with whom I disagree—the grace of Jesus who welcomed sinful me.
Paul started this discussion by telling the strong to welcome the weak. If you are wondering if you should make the first move toward the other, ask yourself if you consider your position the strong or the weak one? If you are the strong (and that’s how most of us consider ourselves and our convictions), then you make the first move and welcome the weak.
This is so easy to say and so hard to do.
Prayer: So I’m praying…Lord, help me. Help us. Help us to be as welcoming to others as You have been to us…to the glory of God.