RomansSample

Romans 15
Strength Is for Lifting, Not for Looking Good

We live in a world that often celebrates strength for its appearance—how good it looks, how impressive it is. But Paul flips that idea. “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” That’s not just a suggestion; it's a call to live differently.

Imagine the gym: it’s full of different people—mirror junkies, casual chatters, hardcore lifters. But one of the most important roles in the gym isn’t the lifter—it’s the spotter. The one who steps in when the weight gets heavy, who helps when you’re struggling. That’s the picture Paul paints for us in the church. We aren’t here to flex our strength but to carry others when they can't carry themselves.

Whether it's physical pain, emotional burden, or spiritual weakness, we’re created to walk shoulder to shoulder. One member of the church needed help during recovery from surgery—and the community showed up. Laundry done. Meals delivered. That’s the church being the church.

Paul says, “Do what’s right and build them up in the Lord.” Strength isn’t for status. It’s for service. You might be strong in faith, in hope, in encouragement. Use it. Get under the bar with someone else. Not to fix them. Just to lift.