Romans 15:7-13 calls us to reflect on selfless service. Before diving into the Scripture, I want you to take a moment and ask yourself: when was the last time you served someone selflessly? Maybe it was mowing a neighbor’s lawn, helping someone in need, or supporting a child in another country through an organization like Compassion International. Think about how it made you feel.
Whether it is a simple act of kindness or a commitment to make disciples, there is a profound joy that comes from serving others without expecting anything in return. Why does it feel so good? I believe it is because when we serve selflessly, we connect to the very heart of Christ. Jesus’ life was a model of sacrificial love, and when we live that out, we experience the joy, peace, and hope that He embodies.
But before we can serve others, we must first welcome and accept them into our lives, just as Christ has welcomed and accepted us. This is the foundation of what Paul teaches in Romans 15. Living to please others instead of ourselves may feel countercultural, but it is exactly how we live out the love of Christ in our daily lives.
1. Model Christ’s Servant Heart and Accept One Another
In Romans 15, Paul commands us to accept one another, just as Christ accepted us. This command to welcome and accept others is not just about tolerance or surface-level inclusion. It is a deep call to reflect the heart of Jesus. Paul urges the Roman believers, and us today, to embrace this Christ-like attitude of service toward others, rooted in the example of Jesus Himself.
The Roman church was dealing with significant division between Jewish and Gentile believers. Jewish Christians had been raised under the Law, with traditions like circumcision and dietary restrictions, and some began to impose these practices on Gentile converts. This led to confusion, disunity, and tension within the church as Gentiles were unsure whether salvation required them to adhere to these extra laws.
However, Paul’s message is clear: salvation comes through Christ alone, not through obedience to the Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law and extended salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. His acceptance of all people — regardless of background, culture, or tradition — sets the example for how we, as His followers, are called to accept one another. We are all united by the same gospel, by the same Savior, and under the same grace.
The church today can still struggle with division, whether over race, socioeconomic status, or personal preferences. But Paul’s message to the Romans applies to us as well: there is no room for elitism or exclusion in the body of Christ. Christ’s acceptance of us is our model, and He calls us to welcome others into our lives and our church communities, just as He has welcomed us.
Jesus did not just accept us from a distance — He welcomed us personally and intimately. He invites us to come to Him, to be in a relationship with Him, and to grow in Him. In the same way, we are called to open our hearts, homes, and lives to others, to walk alongside them, and to serve them. Whether it is inviting someone into your home or simply welcoming them into your life, this is what it means to model Christ’s servant heart. True acceptance involves making space for others, just as Jesus made space for us in His Kingdom.
This command to accept one another is not optional. It is a reflection of Christ’s love for us, and it is essential if we are to fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples of all nations. If we are unwilling to welcome others into our lives, we cannot effectively share the gospel or make disciples. Accepting others is the starting point for disciple-making, and it requires us to model the love, grace, and patience that Christ has shown us.
2. Pray That as We Accept One Another That God Would Fill Us With Hope, Joy, and Peace
As Paul concludes this section of his letter to the Romans, he ends with a powerful and heartfelt prayer: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). This prayer is a plea for God’s people to be filled with hope, joy, and peace as they walk in faith, loving and accepting one another. Paul’s prayer is the result of living a life modeled after Christ. When we serve others selflessly and accept one another as Christ accepted us, we open ourselves to experience the true hope, joy, and peace that only God can give. These are not fleeting emotions or things that the world can offer, but deep, enduring gifts from God that sustain us in all circumstances.
Often, our hearts crave these very things, but we look for them in the wrong places. We may try to find hope in wishful thinking or human efforts, joy in temporary pleasures, and peace in busyness or distractions. But these pursuits leave us empty because true hope, joy, and peace come only from God. Paul reminds us that these blessings are not self-generated; they come from the Holy Spirit’s power working within us.
This prayer is something we all need. In a world where fear and anxiety are prevalent, where stress and depression are all too common, and where worry often overshadows peace, Paul’s words call us back to the source of true fulfillment. Only through a relationship with God, through believing in Christ, can we experience hope that overcomes fear, joy that transcends circumstances, and peace that surpasses understanding. As a church, we must regularly pray for God to fill us with these gifts. Let us pray that as we accept one another — whether it is welcoming someone new into our lives or building deeper relationships with those around us — God will fill us with His hope, joy, and peace. Let us pray that our unity in Christ would be a testimony to the world of the transforming power of the gospel.
Take a moment to reflect:
- Who is God calling you to welcome into your life?
- Who can you accept and serve for the sake of gospel growth in them?
Ask God to reveal someone to you and to give you the strength and willingness to follow through. Let us continue to trust in the God of hope, believing that as we live out His calling to accept and love one another, He will fill our hearts with all joy and peace through the power of His Spirit.
