Romans 15: It’s Not About YOU!

Key Text: Romans 15:1-33

In Romans 15 Paul continues his thoughts from Chapter 14 about not destroying the work of God over disputable matters – differences between believers over non-salvation related practices, judgement calls and personal preferences

Especially the first few verses of this chapter directly relate to the teaching he had been giving in chapter 14, specifically the idea that Paul wanted the Jewish and Gentile believers to Be unified in their faith even though there may be difference between them over non-doctrinal issues of how they live out that faith – eating of meat, considering one day more sacred than another and a thousand and one more matters upon which we can have differences of opinions on but which do not violate the commands of God

Here in this chapter, I want to frame Paul’s instructions with this thought

IT”S NOT ABOUT YOU…

…It’s about OTHERS
…It’s about BECOMING LIKE JESUS
…It’s about UNITY & ACCEPTANCE
…It’s about GOD’S TRUTH and PLAN
…It’s about JOY, PEACE, HOPE and TRUST in God
…It’s about PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
…It’s about what Christ has DONE IN YOU and WANTS TO DO THROUGH YOU
…It’s about ASSISTING OTHERS ON THEIR GOD JOURNEY
…It’s about BLESSING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE IN NEED
…It’s about INTERCEDING FOR OTHERS IN PRAYER

There is a counterintuitive principle at work here. If you insist on making everything about YOURSELF, then you will never obtain that which you are striving for. You will never grow and mature in Christ. You will miss God’s truth and God’s plan. You will fail to have joy and peace and hope and trust in God. You will not see the accomplishments of what Christ wants to do in you and through you. You will struggle in your journey without the help of others. Your prayers will be self-centered and powerless.

But if you willingly lay down your desire to make everything about yourself and instead focus on these things we have talked about today then God will make it about YOU. He will cause these things to be manifested in your life.

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