Daily Devotional with Dr. Duane Brooks
March 20, 2017
Romans 15:1-2 
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
New International Version (NIV)
            "You can't please everyone so you have to please yourself."  Remember that line from a song?  In his letters to the Romans and Corinthians, Paul thought aloud about the subject of whom we please. 

            Spiritual strength does not distance us from the needs of others, but compels us to care.  When we see someone fall down, we might tell them to be more careful.  Or we could help them up.  In Christian community we bear with the failings of others, because we know that we also fail. 

            The goal is not just to try to make everyone happy.  Instead we help our neighbors out to build them up.  We used to use the word edification to describe the process of building others up.  We are not called to flatter others but to encourage them - to put courage in them, because as we well know, life is hard and everyone needs help - including us!
Pray with me:  
Father, let us live in a house by the side of the road where the race of humans go by; some that are strong, some that are weak, as weak or strong as we.  Let us not stand in the scoffer’s place or hurl the cynic’s ban.  Let us live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to others.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
I want to invite you to join me in memorizing 52 passages this year from the 2017 set of Fighter Verses.  You can find the Fighter Verses App at the App Store on your phones or via this link  http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/fighter-verses/. As we study the Bible this year, let's look at each text and learn what it says about God. 
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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