Pleasing Neighbors Romans 15:2

Paul the apostle instructed the believers in Rome, “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak”, and he added, “ and not to please ourselves”. In chapter fifteen and verse two of Romans, Paul instructed the believers to, “let every one of us please his neighbor” where we read:

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

The verse begins, “Let every one of us please his neighbor ...” Paul began with the words, “let every one” which means “allow and permit each, all, the whole and everyone” “of us” or “pertaining to Paul, his companions and his believing readers” “please” which means “strive to accommodate to the opinions, desires and interests of” “his neighbor” or “the person whether male or female's any other person irrespective of their nation or religion with whom they live or whom we chance to meet”. Paul desired for the believers in Rome to “strive to accommodate” their “neighbor”.

The verse continues, “... for his good to edification.” Paul added the words, “for his good” which means “toward the neighbor's good constitution and use as well as their pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent and distinguished nature” “to edification” or “toward building them up”. Paul instructed believers in Jesus to seek to “build up” their “neighbors” in an “excellent and distinguished manner and nature”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how others are to be the focus of those who believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world for everyone's benefit even when people were as enemies toward Him. When believers seek to “build up” their “neighbors”, they fulfill God's law to “love one another”, and the world shall know they are “Christians”.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how, “Christ pleased not himself”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.