Loading... THE FAITH THAT BINDS - Romans 1:11-12
Monday, July 31st, 2006Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you , that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
It is the faith in Jesus Christ that units the body of Christ. This faith that binds is what enabled Paul to teach spiritual things to the Christians knowing that they would receive his words and grow thereby. Paul understood that when he taught the Christians, they would be able to hear his words and be established in their faith. This mutual faith enabled Paul and the church at Rome to comfort each other.
You do not have to live very long as a Christian to understand that God allows you to go through trials. When you know that another brother or sister in Christ is going through a trial, because of your mutual faith, you are able to comfort them and to encourage them to continue to please God. You can comfort those who God has placed in your life by sharing your testimony of how God saw you through a similar circumstance and how God was faithful to you to see you through the trial.
Paul not only sought the unsaved to preach to them the gospel of Christ. Paul’s letters were written to the Church where he was trying to impart spiritual doctrine to them so that they might be established in the ways of God. Paul had faced many severe trials and while he probably would have been willing to forgo the trials that he faced, Paul understood that these trials and persecutions that he faced opened up many doors for him.
Paul understood that his trials enabled him to comfort his brothers and sisters in Christ when they were going through hard times. Paul could explain to a Christian how God had taken him through trials and how God had received the glory from his life because he persevered. Paul was able to touch a lot of people on this earth because of his desire to do the things of God and for God to be glorified through him. Nonetheless, because of his ministry, Paul suffered many things which did not diminish his ministry but actually caused his ministry to be more dynamic.
What has your focused been when it comes to working with those who are already saved? Have you sought for opportunities to encourage others to grow closer to the Lord? Have you shared your testimony with them so as to encourage them to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord? When Paul was around the brethren, he would encourage them to grow closer to God and to do that which is right in the eyes of God.
You are not on an island. You are not the only individual in the world who desires to serve the Lord. Elijah felt that he was the only person in Israel that was serving God, but God reminded him that there was seven thousand who had not bowed a knee to Baal. You should be quick to find ways to encourage believers who God places in your life. As you work with others, both of you will increase in faith as you hear the testimonies of God’s faithfulness to those who believe HIM and do as HE has said.
There are so many opportunities for God to use you if only you are willing to be used by God. Be ready always to comfort those who are going through trials. Be ready to impart spiritual teaching to weaker Christians so that their paths may be established.