Parents will identify with the first verse of our passage today. “Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.” (Romans 15:1, CSB) We’ve all been there, waiting for a child to finish a task we could do faster. Whether that is washing dishes, tying shoelaces, or putting away toys. But those moments are valuable even if they stress-test our patience.
“Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice. Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praise to your name. Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people! And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples praise him! And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in him. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:1–13, CSB)
In those patient testing moments, the child is learning a skill, some life habits, and hopefully grasping a good attitude. But the parents are also learning something about Christ and His interactions with us. Can you imagine how we try God’s patience at times? Yet we read, “For even Christ did not please himself.” On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. The last part is a quote from Psalm 69:9.
As an almost side note, Paul connects to things he wrote earlier in the letter. “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.” (Romans 15:4, CSB) The Scriptures Paul has in view here are what we call the Old Testament.
It’s easy to lose sight of how much time elapsed between Genesis and Malachi. We’re talking 1000s of years, during which God demonstrably shepherds the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those stories, songs, and prophecies remind us that God doesn’t give up. His endurance gives us hope and encouragement that God will not give up on us either. Those Scriptures contain God’s promises, fulfilled and confirmed in Christ. Those same Scriptures point to the coming of Christ and the time when Gentiles (non-hebrew/jewish) would also hope in God. “And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will appear, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in him.” (Romans 15:12, CSB)
With the grand sweep of God’s history and the fulfillment of His many promises in view, we receive this blessing: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, CSB)
Romans Applied: God is patient with us. That’s good, but we can take the wrong lesson from it, as some see God’s patience as a license to go their own way. God’s patience gives us room to repent, learn, and grow in Him. But this requires that we seek first God’s kingdom, abide in Christ and in His Word, and run this race with endurance. Walking in faith takes time and persistence. But as we continue God will fill us up with all joy and peace and overflowing hope. Not by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
- Romans Applied – God’s Patience - September 30, 2026
- Romans Applied – Dealing With Differences - September 23, 2026
- Romans Applied – Debt of Love - September 16, 2026
