Today's Meditation - Thursday, July 23, 2020

Today's Meditation

Read Romans 15:1-13

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. ³For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ⁴For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

⁵May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; ¹⁰and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; ¹¹and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; ¹²and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Did you know that there are nearly 100 scripture verses in the New Testament alone that talk about building one another up or encouraging one another?  It is one of the most covered concepts of the new covenant.  Here are a few examples:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
• Romans 14:19  "Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
• Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another every day, as long as it is called "today", so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Why then is our culture so set on putting others down?  This gets us, as a whole and healthy community, nowhere.  In fact, there are modern day proverbs that speak about this.  Here are a few examples of those, as well.

• People who are secure in themselves don't put others down.  They lift them up.
• Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make yours shine any brighter.
• You can't fix yourself by breaking someone else.
• How you make others feel about themselves, says a lot about you.

Say something positive and helpful to someone else today.  Let us work towards a whole and healthy community.  Build someone up, instead of tearing them down.

Encourage One Another - I'm in the midst of writing VBS curriculum and giving out kits to the kids in our community.  This isn't one of the songs for this year's theme, but I liked it and thought it was catchy and helpful in remembering the theme of today's meditation.