Receive the Weak in the Faith Romans 14:1

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying”, and he added, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” In chapter fourteen and verse one of Romans, Paul told the believers to “receive”, “him that is weak in the faith” where we read:

Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.

The verse begins, “Him that is weak in the faith receive you, ...” Paul began with the words, “him” which means “the human whether male or female” “that is weak” or “who is feeble, without strength and powerless” “in the faith” which refers to “in the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “receive you” or “take in, take by the hand in order to lead aside, grant access and admit”. Paul encouraged the believers in Rome to “receive” people who are “feeble and without strength” in their convictions concerning God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The verse goes on to say, “... but not to doubtful disputations.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “not to doubtful” or “not towards thought, inward reasoning, purpose, design, hesitation, disputing and arguing” “disputations” which refers to “distinguishing, discerning and judging”. Paul did not want the believers in Rome to “receive” people who were “weak in the faith” to the point of “disputing, arguing and judging”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how there are differences in the levels of “faith” people can have as they put their “faith and trust” in Jesus Christ. Equal “faith” is provided by God to “believe” in Jesus as a personal “Savior and Lord”, however, the life of a believer may be manifested in different ways. The idea was for the “believers” to “receive” anyone who was “weaker” in the “faith”, and this was not be to the point of “argument” and “judgment” against them. God desires to have a family of people who believe and trust in His Son Jesus Christ as their “Savior”, and He knows they shall have personal “convictions” that sometimes differ from one another. Let all who read these words keep in mind, “loving one another” is the command of the Lord Jesus even when one person is “weak” and the other is “strong”.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs”, 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.