Paul is not one to sugarcoat and withhold information he has been called to speak. His assertiveness and boldness in repaying God’s grace can be attributed to the fact that he has surrendered almost all regard for himself and thrown himself into the upward race towards the crown of life and righteousness. Unwavering in his daily endeavours after Christ’s example, his central hope is for others to learn from him, and in turn, be testaments of the almightiness of God themselves. Here, one point for our learning and reflection is our single-mindedness, as a church, the body of Christ, in our service, worship, and fellowship. In his writing, Paul consciously and repeatedly uses first-person possessive pronouns, i.e., we, us, our, and addresses the members of the church as a whole using singular pronouns, i.e., you, to highlight the importance of growth as one body.  Much as it is easy to be encouraged and stirred up by Paul’s urging, putting his exhortations into action is sometimes near impossible. As long as this world exists, unbreakable unity within the church remains a perpetual pursuit. Well aware of the imminent challenges that lie in wait, in his parting words, Paul’s deliberate mention of the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit reminds the members that it is only by God’s will that His mission for us can be fulfilled. A church earnestly devoted in prayer and the good of each other is a church that strives and stays together. May God, through His Holy Spirit, continually abound in us and move us to actively do His work, to further the reaches of His kingdom, and to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

When we truly love someone, we seek to understand their heart, empathise with them, and feel what they feel.  We who love God are called to know His heart. God’s heart is for humanity, having so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to save them (John 3:16). But even more so, God’s heart is for His beloved people, the holy ones whom He has chosen and redeemed (Colossians 3:12).  One of the things that constitutes loving our Lord is loving His people, and ensuring they do not stumble. This is one of the key ideas of Romans 14. The chapter encourages us not to judge or look down on our brethren who are weak in faith. In its context, “weak in faith” refers to a person whose conscience would rebuke them if they didn’t abide by certain rules and thought they weren’t making God happy (see 1 Corinthians 8:9-12).  During the time that Paul wrote this, there were believers who abstained from certain foods or observed certain days, thinking that doing so would please God (Romans 14:6). By extension, their consciences were pricked when they did not abide by these standards, as we see from the word “unclean” in this verse: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.” (Romans 14:14) In our society today, this could be believers abstaining from eating meat, choosing not to watch movies to keep themselves sanctified from worldly influences, or even determining to fast on certain days. Some may also believe that they should only consider a future spouse recommended to them by the church’s Marriage Facilitators.  Our instinctive reactions to someone who holds different standards from us may be that of shock or judgment.  “Huh? You mean you make yourself do that?”  While such a response may be natural, Romans 14:1 reminds us to do what is counterintuitive and welcome the weak. This means not to despise this individual (Romans 14:3), and not to cause him or her to stumble over these matters (Romans 14:13).   In fact, from 1 Corinthians 8, we can see that welcoming someone who is weak includes being sensitive to his conscience. For instance, if we are around believers who do not eat meat, we should be considerate, not compelling them to eat meat or make condescending remarks about their beliefs.  God does not wish for us to despise or judge our brethren because it divides the body of Christ. And so, Romans 14:1 teaches us to stay away from quarrelling over opinions. It’s important to note that these are not rules strictly etched in the Bible, unlike the Ten Commandments or the teachings of salvation. Instead, these are people’s individual standards of practicing their faiths. In our opinionated society, it may be challenging to for us to meekly accept the perspectives of another. For some of us, it’s even a default practice to stand up for our opinions and immediately “correct” someone we think is wrong.  However, these believers who may not practise their faith in the same exact manner like ours answer to God, not you and me.  “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)  If we make our brethren grieved by what we eat, we are no longer walking in love (Romans 14:15). And God has called us to love both God and our neighbor too (Mark 12:29-31).  At the end of the day, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) There are things that have little relevance to our relationship with God, such as our dietary choices, and then there are spiritual qualities that God delights in—what truly matters. 

Without this grace from God, life is meaningless.

How should Christians conduct ourselves in society?

How can we live as a living sacrifice, pleasing to God?

Some time ago, I visited one of our churches. Despite its years, the church stood as a testament to faithful care. The floors were spotless, the Bibles and hymn books arranged neatly, and the flower arrangements by the pulpit thoughtfully done. You could see that love was poured into caring for the house of God. However, one thing stood out. When service began, there were only a handful of members present. I later learned that this had been the norm for quite some time. Silence settled into the rows of empty pews, and it was a stark contrast to the full pews I was used to seeing back home. And yet, in that quiet hall, there were still those who continued to show up, worship, and care for His house with faithfulness.  I could not help but wonder what it must be like to walk our journey of faith with few companions. Or perhaps the endurance required to keep showing up week after week, worshipping in a place where silence often outweighs the singing, and the absence of others is felt more than their presence. At that moment, I realized how we oftentimes underestimate the power of support.  There are many instances where we assume our presence does not matter. We think to ourselves, “ Someone else will be there,” not realizing that our very presence might be the comfort or encouragement someone is quietly praying for.  Our care and support should shine brighter than the loneliness that quietly tries to take root. We are to be the light and salt not only to the world (Matthew 5:13–14) but also to our brethren. Let our words and presence wash away the sense of solitude, soften the weight of discouragement, and remind our brethren that they are not alone.  We must be the outstretched arms that hold one another up. When Moses’ hands grew tired while praying during Israel's battle against the Amalekites, Aaron and Hur stood beside him, one on each side. They shared his burden by holding his hands steady until sunset, and Israel emerged victorious (Exo 17:8-13).  “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” ( Prov 16:24) Let us not underestimate what a kind word, a visit, or even our quiet presence can do. Sometimes, the simplest act of support echoes the loudest in the heart of someone who is bearing their burden in silence. Perhaps one day, we may find our hearts in need of such light and encouragement as well. So do not underestimate your role of companionship. May we grow and mature into the kind of support our brethren need and be someone who can strengthen the hands that hang down and lift the hearts that are growing weary.