| Romans 15:1-3 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.'" Paul said here that "even Christ did not please himself", which is a very important feature of our belief. We are after all a group of people who do not please themselves, for even Jesus did not please himself, either, by coming to this world for us and setting an example for our conducts. Not pleasing oneself is not to fight for the right one is entitled to. We always would fight with others in great detail just to make it clear what is yours and what is mine, making it hard to become the help of others. Even if we help others, we would think right away: "What about me? If I help him this time, will he remember to return the favor? If not, will what I have done be in vain?" This is definitely not what a Christian should do to bear testimony for Jesus. A true Christian is someone who is willing to sacrifice for the Lord, someone who is willing to walk a second mile, and someone who is willing to offer undergarment to others, otherwise we cannot bear the weakness of those who don't stand firm. A person who doesn't stand firm may be weak now and then, blown and tossed by the wind. Those who always need other's patient support will not return the favor. If your care is not enough, they will complain instead to accuse you. By flesh you and I might not want to care for those people. But Jesus came to this world to look for and save those who are lost. If the Lord came for them, what reason do we have to reject them? Even though the favor will not be returned, and there are many difficulties, we should still serve them without any complaint, just for the sake of the Lord. Brothers and sisters, this is the character of a Christian. This is also the true belief people in the world are looking for. Is there any of such people who don't stand firm around you? Don't complain. Care for him with the love of Christ instead, for Jesus didn't please himself! Pray with Pastor Tong Liu 
Lord, may your love pour down into our heart. We thank you, for you didn't please yourself, either. For our sake, you gave up all the heavenly honor and came to this world in order to save us. May you give us the love so that we can love people around us with your love, bear the weakness of those who cannot stand firm, empathize for their burden, pray and bless them from the bottom of our heart, serve them in their life, and bring them back to you. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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