In Rom. 14 Paul writes 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
A honestly cannot remember when or who it was who once told me, "It's about souls, stupid." But I probably had it coming for some reason. We get so wrapped up in ourselves and our little worlds (God's is bigger) that we forget why we are here. We forget why we do what we do. We forget about others. You can tell when you forget because you start to take it all personally.
That's what Paul is trying to show the Romans in verses 14 - 16. Don't take everything so personally! Rejoice and mourn with others. Don't be envious about someone else's blessing and act nasty. Then don't go around rejoicing over someone else's tragedy, saying that they got what they deserved.
Live in harmony with each other! Paul wasn't promoting political correctness. He was promoting the qualities of character. Quit throwing gasoline on fires. Think about others and their feelings. It usually isn't about you so quit taking it so personally.
This next one really gets me. Be willing to associate with people of lowly position. It doesn't matter what you think that makes them lower than you. Understand God has never and will never look at them that way. If He refuses to do it, then we should too. If we are willing to turn up our noses to people then we shouldn't be surprised if God turns His nose up at us. Do you think this might be why we don't get more of our prayers answered?
A honestly cannot remember when or who it was who once told me, "It's about souls, stupid." But I probably had it coming for some reason. We get so wrapped up in ourselves and our little worlds (God's is bigger) that we forget why we are here. We forget why we do what we do. We forget about others. You can tell when you forget because you start to take it all personally.
That's what Paul is trying to show the Romans in verses 14 - 16. Don't take everything so personally! Rejoice and mourn with others. Don't be envious about someone else's blessing and act nasty. Then don't go around rejoicing over someone else's tragedy, saying that they got what they deserved.
Live in harmony with each other! Paul wasn't promoting political correctness. He was promoting the qualities of character. Quit throwing gasoline on fires. Think about others and their feelings. It usually isn't about you so quit taking it so personally.
This next one really gets me. Be willing to associate with people of lowly position. It doesn't matter what you think that makes them lower than you. Understand God has never and will never look at them that way. If He refuses to do it, then we should too. If we are willing to turn up our noses to people then we shouldn't be surprised if God turns His nose up at us. Do you think this might be why we don't get more of our prayers answered?
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