1Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God. 8Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles
and sing to your name.”
10Again he says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11Again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Let all the peoples praise him.”
12Again, Isaiah says,
“There will be the root of Jesse,
he who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
14I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; 20yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. 21But, as it is written,
“They will see, to whom no news of him came.
They who haven’t heard will understand.”
22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in material things. 28When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
30Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
The Scriptures Give us Hope
The Scriptures Give Us Hope
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some Christians teach that the Old Testament is not relevant for believers in Jesus. They say it has no purpose and was written for the Jews. They focus solely on the New Testament and exclude the rest of the Bible. Paul is stating that ALL of the writings that we call the Old Testament were written for our learning. They were inspired by God, and they are relevant to teach us spiritual truth. We must remember that at the time Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome, the Old Testament was the only scripture that he had. There is purpose in these scriptures.
Paul writes that through them we are comforted and have hope. If you’ve ever been in a desperate situation, nothing will speak to you like the Psalms of David. Psalm 23 assures us that we have a Shepherd who loves us and provides abundantly for us. Psalm 27 urges us to hope that we’ll someday have hope again when all seems lost. Years ago, I suffered a great betrayal in my business. I had brought in two younger colleagues over the years and had given them an opportunity to become minority owners in the business. In time, they wanted it all. They threatened to open up across the street as my competitors if I didn’t relinquish control and ownership to them. The mental anguish and agony that I suffered were beyond description. A year or so after all of that came crashing down, I opened my Bible and began reading through the Book of Genesis.
When I came to the story of Joseph and his brothers, it spoke to me in a way it had never done before. I was in the story. I was there. I felt each and every pain that Joseph experienced as he was sold into slavery, and, after being falsely accused by Potipher’s wife, he was thrown into prison. Things seemed hopeless. I don’t remember the point in the story when it happened, but as I read of his betrayals by those whom he loved and trusted, tears began to flow down my cheeks, and they spattered on the pages of my old goat-skinned Bible that I had received from my mom and dad for Christmas in 1972. As I wept, my spirit lifted. There was a pain deep within my spirit that came up out of me, and it poured out onto the pages of that old Bible. As Paul said, the “comfort of the scriptures brought me hope.” Reader, those stories and accounts are still there waiting to comfort you. Bring your pain to Jesus. Pour out your soul before the God in heaven who has counted and collected each and every tear that you’ve ever shed. As you are comforted, forgive those who have wronged you, and move on!