Romans 15:1

Romans 15:1 says, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Paul is continuing to discuss our responsibility to other Christians. He tells us that those who are stronger in their faith are to do all they can to help those who are weaker.  We cannot use or freedom through faith as a reason to act superior to others, but instead must use it to help them grow in their faith.  Verse two adds, Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.  I don't believe that Paul is telling us to do everything our neighbor says, but that we are not to act in a way that keeps them from being verified, or built up. We also need to remember that Paul is speaking about followers of Christ, who may not be at the same point in their spiritual growth.  I believe he is speaking of matters that stand between believers and God. The one who is stronger in faith should lift the other up, not put him down for his lack of understanding the true freedom he has over the things of this world.  Verse three continues, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.  Here Paul tells us why we should do this.  As followers of Christ, we are to always look to Him for the example of how to live our lives.  Christ did not live to please Himself, though He certainly could have.  He took on the reproaches of mankind in order to bring salvation to the world, for their good and not His own. Verse four states, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.  Paul had again referred to the scriptures when speaking about Jesus.  In this verse, he reminds us of the purpose of the scriptures. Those things that were written before, and for followers of Christ today, those things written around the time of Christ that were determined to be scripture, were written for us to learn from.  Paul tells us that through the scriptures we are to have hope, which brings us peace and comfort.  Does the Bible do this for us today?  We need to find peace and comfort through studying the Bible, not stress and worry about the condition of the world.  We know that God is victorious over the world in the end, and conditions are never going to change that fact.  What better reason is there for hope in life.  Verse five adds, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:  Paul tells us that God is a God of patience and consolation.  That is the reason this sinful world still stands.  God is patiently waiting for people to come to Him through the salvation of Christ to be consoled by Him.  Then, Paul tells us we are to be likeminded toward one another, through our redemption by Christ. We are to follow the example Christ set when reaching out to the world and when relating to fellow Christians.  Verse six continues, That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are to be united in our witness for Christ, which brings glory to the Father.  Once we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we should then live by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and when we do, God will always be glorified in our lives.