Devotion #6: The Eye of The Tiger
“For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” Romans 15:8
When I was a kid, I was a big fan of all the “Rocky” movies. I do not know if you have seen them, but in “Rocky I” and “Rocky II,” Rocky’s nemesis is a boxer named Apollo Creed. They were enemies. In “Rocky III,” Rocky’s trainer dies of a heart attack. Apollo Creed offers to take the job as Rocky’s new trainer. Rocky and Apollo both want to defeat a bully boxer named Clubber Lang, so they overcome their differences and accept each other because of this common goal.
In Romans 15:8, Paul is speaking about two groups of people who were also enemies: Jews and Gentiles. Both the Jewish group and the Gentile group that Paul is speaking to are Christians who have put their faith in Jesus. Since both groups are Christians, they are part of the Church of Jesus Christ. Both groups have the same goal, which is to bring glory to God. Paul is encouraging the two groups to accept one another. Paul uses Jesus as an example. Read Romans 15:7, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Paul explains that Jesus accepted them with love, grace, and forgiveness. Paul encourages them to follow Jesus’ example.
It is no different in the church today. Jesus saves people from all walks of life with many different backgrounds, personalities, and interests. If we do not handle our differences with people in the right manner, it can push us apart and even cause us to be enemies.
Believers who have put their faith in Jesus have a couple of things in common, just like Rocky and Apollo did. First, all believers have Christ’s example of love. He accepted us with love and forgiveness, even though we did not deserve it. Second, all believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces fruit in us, such as love, patience, gentleness, and self-control. Only through the Holy Spirit’s strength are we able to love and accept others who are different from us.
All believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. However, if we are not allowing the Spirit to guide and govern us by aligning our choices and decisions with the truth of Scripture, the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces will not be evident in our lives.
If you are not already, I want to encourage you to be in God’s Word regularly. I would also like to encourage you to not only read God’s Word, but also allow the Holy Spirit to use it to transform you into being more like Jesus. Only through that transformation will we be able to accept one another in such a diverse community as the Church of Jesus Christ, which will bring glory to God.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18