24/11/2010 - THE MISSION OF THE STRONG

• 
• 
• 
• 

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

The faith that uplifts, invigorates and provides the conditions for so many people to win every battle is not working for many others. It\’s amazing and sounds paradoxical, but it\’s true. We must remain on the alert in order to avoid any nasty surprises. It should not be this way because the Word we preach is addressed to all and if people believe in it, it has the power to strengthen the weak, after all the Gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16).

The verse speaks of the importance of bearing the scruples of the weak. Yet if there are weak people, we expect that there will be times when they will be very feeble. Many single pastors, for example, go through a very disturbing problem: it is common for young ladies to go up to them and say that the Lord showed that they had been chosen for them. There are even married women – well married women, by the way – looking for some Christian man who act the same way. This is one of the weaknesses which we have to endure.

    The apostle does not tell us to argue with the weak, but to bear their scruples and give them counseling with a Christian spirit. There are cases in which men and women come to us with outlandish trade proposals and ensure that they were inspired by the Lord; some get upset if we do not accept their suggestions.

The truth is that oftentimes some weak people become unpleasant because of the insistence with which they come after us to try and convince us. Even so, the order is to bear them in their weakness, not just by hearing them with dignity, but assuming the authority given to us in the name of the Lord to rebuke, in our prayers, the enemy that is using them.

When we bear them and intercede for them, we please God. These people, if properly fed with the Bread of Heavens, shall become strong and good Christians. Isn’t it the reason why we were strengthened in the first place? Jesus assured us that by doing good to the little ones who believe in Him, we were doing it to Him (Matthew 25:37-40).

Every time we represent the Most High, acting in His Name to deliver someone from evil oppression, we please Him. This should not be a burden about which to complain, but rather it should be an opportunity to serve the Lord. Always help someone who the enemy has deceived.

Carrying out all the counsels of the Lord is one of the duties of whoever was chosen to be a servant. Remember always: A good servant takes pleasure in serving. The servant cannot choose where and how he wants to serve; rather, he must serve where he has been sent.

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares