Bourland Family Blog

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. 
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 
Romans 15:8-13

My passage for quiet time this morning was Romans 15:8-13 but I was drawn again and again to verses 8-9a and 13. I will talk about 9b – 12 in a minute. Paul did not found the church in Rome, neither did he visited it. The Christian Jews had grown up all their lives being taught and living out the fact that they were God’s chosen people. The extension of the promises of God to the Gentiles was a big thing to swallow. Paul directs those Roman Christian Jews to some scripture that reinforces his point (more on that in sec).

Then I got to verse 13 – There is a ton of theology wrapped up in this little verse and once again, God knows what I need when I need it. As I have been talking of late, I have had quite a load of heavy things to walk through with some in my Biblical Community. I love that Paul reminds us that there is one thing that we can do here on earth that will FILL us up with joy and peace from the ‘God of Hope’ –> BELIEVING…so that –> by the Power of the Holy Spirit (living in us today), we may abound in HOPE. I feel convicted in my own walk that ‘Believing’ for me also means TRUSTING. If I just believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit will be all that I need for a joy and peace that produces hope.

Ok, now onto the passages of scripture that Paul referenced. The reason he did this was to show that just as their designation as God’s chosen was true, so was going to be the extension of God’s mercy to the Gentiles. These passages below are from 2 Samuel 22:50, Psalms 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalms 117:1, and Isaiah 11:10. Jesus referred to what was written as well other apostles, just as Paul did here. There could be no mistaking that Gentiles were grafted into the opportunity to be adopted by God as His children.

As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
Romans 15:9b-12

APPLICATION

My application is to take this learning on the mercy of God that has been extended to me as a Gentile, and also the truth that my Father, the God of Hope, gave me His Son as my personal Sin Bearer so that I can be reconciled to Him. That belief and trust in my God is all I need in order to receive the joy and peace available to me today…not only that, but I also don’t have to do that alone…I have the power of the Holy Spirit inside of me that gives me the strength to see the long-game.

Romans 15:1-7 (ESV)
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Once again, the Lord provides me what I need when I need it! There have been situations in my life lately where this is such a blessing. “To Bear” means to ‘pick up and carry a weight’, like carrying a pitcher of water. Figuritively it can also mean the ‘bearing of an obligation’. This is not saying that the strong are to tolerate the weakness of their weaker bothers; they are to help the weakness shoulder their burdens by showing loving and practical consideration for them (Gal 6:2, 1 Cor 9:19-22, and Phil 2:2-4). We are to build our neighbor up, not please ourselves.

This next set of verses about Jesus not pleasing Himself and the reproach from other we feel, fell on Christ first. He bore the slander, false accusations, and insults. We cannot allow the reproach of others to drive our responses; Christ has already bore our sorrows and grief (Isaiah 53:4). God, through Paul, calls us to live in harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, even when we feel reproached by a brother or sister in Christ. So powerful.

APPLICATION

This is applicable right now. The things I am dealing with, by coming alongside others, is spot on with the application of this passage. I am so grateful to the Lord for His provision, His Sovereignty, and His Holy Spirit. These times are the times where He grows my faith, because I can see the tangible weight and impact of His hand in the lives, situations, and circumstances around me.

22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23

I understand that mishandling my Christian liberty can harm not only others but my own spiritual life if I lose God’s perspective. That happens when I either criticize or feel guilty about good gifts God has given, or when I selfishly display my freedom without love or concern for how it affects others. When I am strong in faith and genuinely convinced before God that a practice is good and permissible, I should not condemn myself or treat that freedom as sinful. Instead, I am called to live with a clear conscience before God, enjoying His gifts with gratitude while remaining ready to surrender them for the sake of another believer’s spiritual well-being.

At the same time, I must be honest about the condition of my own conscience. If I am weak in faith in a particular area, acting against my convictions—even under pressure—leads me into sin because it is not done from faith. Just as it is wrong for a stronger believer to push me beyond my conscience, it is also wrong for me to ignore that inner warning to fit in or avoid discomfort. God is not calling me to imitate someone else’s freedom, but to walk faithfully according to the measure of faith He has given me, growing in maturity while honoring Him in both restraint and liberty.

APPLICATION

God is teaching me that areas I feel comfortable in my convictions based on what the Lord has revealed to me in His word, does not mean that it is directly applicable to someone else. The separation is –> First, straight out instruction which is applied to everyone and written in plain form…It is another thing to read through in study on a given topic and establish a knowledgeable doctrine about a theological stance that frees us from a conviction we used to have. Trying to press what I have come to understand on someone, that causes them to choose to go against a conviction they have before the Lord has revealed new knowledge through their own reading and work of the Holy Spirit, is dangerous.

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 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. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:13-19

Been a few days since I last posted, but as God would have it, this passage is exactly what I needed this morning. I am not a morning person — but my eyes came open at 5:00am and my heart heavy with a lot of things I am involved with at church. Being that I could not get back to sleep, I came downstairs, fixed my coffee, woke up a little bit, and then sat down here at God’s Word and my laptop…and this is where I found myself. God in His great mercy and grace, continues to show me that He is here; here with me and for me.

Don’t Cause Your Brother to Stumble

Paul reminds us that God alone has the authority to judge, since each of us will stand before His judgment seat and give an account to Him. Because judgment belongs to God, we should not condemn one another, recognizing how pride, self-righteousness, and criticism have caused division in the church. Instead, we are called to use good judgment—not to condemn, but to make wise and loving decisions. This means choosing not to place obstacles or stumbling blocks in the way of other believers. Even when something is permissible, love may require us to limit our freedom for the sake of someone else’s spiritual well-being. Our goal is to care for one another in ways that encourage growth rather than cause harm.

Don’t Grieve Your Brother

Paul teaches that another way we build up fellow believers is by being careful not to say or do anything that might spiritually hurt or grieve them. I may know with confidence that certain things are not sinful in themselves, because God has declared them clean, but that knowledge does not give me license to ignore the conscience of someone else. Even when my understanding is mature and my freedom is real, another believer’s conscience may still be sensitive, and for them, something permissible can feel genuinely wrong. I also have my own weak spots, areas where my conscience is uneasy, and if I violate it, I risk dulling my sensitivity to sin. Love therefore calls me not only to respect my own conscience, but to be deeply aware of how my choices affect others. If my freedom causes a brother or sister distress or leads them to act against their conscience, then I am no longer walking in love. The harm is especially serious when my example pressures someone to do what they believe is wrong, leaving them burdened with guilt and spiritual loss. Paul makes clear that such behavior is not just unkind but sinful, because it wounds a believer for whom Christ died. True love chooses restraint over rights and compassion over liberty. The safest path, then, is to consistently walk according to love, even when that means setting aside what I am free to do.

Don’t Devastate Your Brother

Paul warns me that building others up means more than avoiding offense—it means refusing to spiritually devastate a fellow believer. When Scripture speaks of “destroying” a brother, it does not mean causing the loss of salvation, but causing serious harm to his spiritual well-being, growth, and stability. Christ takes such harm very seriously, because these believers are people for whom He willingly died. Even treating a weaker believer with contempt or carelessness is a grave offense in God’s sight. That reality reminds me of the immense value God places on every believer, regardless of spiritual maturity. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for the whole world, even though it is applied only to those who believe, which magnifies the seriousness of wounding someone He has redeemed. If Christ was willing to give His life for that person, I must never treat their spiritual health lightly. My freedom, preferences, or knowledge can never justify damaging someone’s faith. To harm another believer spiritually is to act against Christ’s heart and purposes. Walking in love means guarding others’ spiritual well-being as something precious and sacred.

APPLICATION

Don’t forfeit my witness —> I recognize that one reason I must use my Christian freedom carefully is to protect the church’s witness before the watching world. If I selfishly exercise my liberty and cause division or harm to weaker believers, what God has given as good can be spoken of as evil. My freedom in Christ is a gracious gift, but it is meant to be governed by love, not personal indulgence. I am called to willingly limit my freedom when it might cause a brother or sister to stumble or give unbelievers an excuse to reject the gospel. Scripture reminds me that while many things are lawful, not all things are helpful or edifying. Out of love, I should prioritize another person’s conscience over my own preferences, even if that costs me something. Demonstrating love, peace, and unity matters far more than insisting on my rights. Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit—not food, drink, or personal freedoms—are what truly advance God’s kingdom.

Romans 14:5-9 (ESV)
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Fair warning – a lot of what I write today is from John MacArthur. His commentary on this passage was super helpful, so I apologize in advance and give him the credit for the great ways of looking at what the Lord is saying through Paul here.

In Paul’s time (after the ascension of Jesus), though it was no longer required by God, the weak Jewish believer felt compelled to observe the Sabbath and other special days associated with Judaism –> “esteems one day” On the other hand, the weak Gentile wanted to separate himself from the special days of festivities associated with his former paganism because of its immorality and idolatry –> “esteems all days alike”. The mature believers were unaffected by these things. Each of us believers must follow our conscience in matters not specifically commanded or prohibited in Scripture. Since conscience is a God-given mechanism to warn and responds to the highest standard of moral law in the mind (Rom. 2:14–15), it is not sensible to train yourself to ignore it. Instead, we must respond to its compunctions and as we mature; by learning more, our mind will not alert it to those things that are not essential. –> “Each . . . should be fully convinced”

The next verse (6) talks about the strong believer eating whatever he pleases and thanks the Lord. The weak brother eats according to his ceremonial diet and thanks the Lord that he made a sacrifice on his behalf. In either case, the believer thanks the Lord, so the motive is the same –> “of the Lord”. Whether weak or strong, the motive behind a believer’s decisions about issues of conscience must be to please the Lord.

As this chapter started, Paul comes back to not judging one another. This time he draws our attention to the fact that one day, every knee will bow before Jesus and we will all stand before the Judgement Seat of God…all of us. So, if I and the person I am having an issue with, will have to stand before the perfectly just God of the universe and answer for our life choices, then what business do I have passing judgement on them now…when I have a flawed fleshly sense of justice?

APPLICATION

Since I live in a glass house, it is probably best that I don’t throw stones. I need to remind myself that I have been saved by grace alone…that I actually deserve to spend an eternity in hell for the sin I have and continue to commit toward a Holy and Pure God. Therefore, when it comes to being upset by the way I have been treated, or something I see in someone else that I don’t agree with, I better remind myself what I too will answer for my own shortcomings. Better to just stay in my lane of keeping my focus on thanking the Lord for everything, in every situation, and every circumstance.

Romans 14:1-4 (ESV)
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Once again the Lord is hitting me right where I need it. Paul is calling out those that want to meet with a fellow believer, who is earlier in their walk of faith/sanctification, to encourage them but then using that time to argue about areas of scripture that require deep study and comprehending the arch of God’s Word about something. In a parenting context, Marianne and I call this “Parenting outside the funnel”.

Paul is encouraging us to 1) have patience and 2) to not overly ‘school’ a new believer. He then moves on to differences in conviction; that depending on one’s upbringing, church history, or exposure to biblical principals, may hold on to a looser stance on something. A good example might be the consumption of alcohol. Marianne and I made a decision almost 15 years ago that we did not want our kids growing up seeing us drink and secondly there was a lot of damage that alcohol had done on both sides of family…we just felt that is wasn’t worth it. That being said there is nothing wrong with the believer who drinks in moderation (God’s word is very clear about not drinking to drunkenness).

There are things in my life right now where it is really easy to look at “how I might handle something” versus “how I am seeing someone else handle something”. I find that I have a fleshly tendency to think critically of a person (especially if they are in a spiritual leadership capacity) who is not approaching and handling something as I would…as I would based on what I believe the Lord lays on my heart in biblical conviction. Every believer is running their own race and some at different stages than others. Sometimes the Lord uses us to further a fellow believer’s understanding of God’s word and others, He is just working on that person’s heart in His own timing.

APPLICATION

I need to keep my heart pure. The evil one would like nothing more than to tear down the internal ranks of God’s Kingdom by Christians passing judgement on each other, holding each other to inappropriate bars, or worse, building resentment and bitterness. I must keep my heart positioned (nestled) into the shins of my Savior…keeping my ear close to His mouth and leaning on His discernment, wisdom, and grace. Essentially, spending more time at the foot of the cross.

Romans 13:9-10 (ESV)
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

These sets of verses in Romans 13 have become really important in Biblical Counseling. What God is telling us through Paul is that, as believers, when we honor and Glorify God through our behavior towards those the Lord has placed in our sphere of influence, we are biblically adhering to what the Lord has called us to do.

In marriage counseling – our closest neighbor is our spouse so this passage becomes even more important and applicable in calling out treatment and actions that don’t fall in line with what Paul calls us to do. The other thing you will notice is that there is no set qualifiers that the neighbor is responsible for in order to earn our love toward them. This can be very hard but it is what God calls us to do. It falls right in line with Romans 12:14-21.

APPLICATION

This passage has to stay on the top of my mind, it needs to be in the forefront of my prayers asking for the Holy Spirit to convict me, and it needs to be the area I am quick to confess and repent when I find I have not followed the instruction. My flesh is inclined to cling to ways I should be treated, or ways I deserve to be spoken to, but I have been bought with a price and vengeance is the Lords. Humility and meekness are two attributes that I want to grow in.

Romans 9:6-11
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls…

When I read this passage, I’m reminded that God has never been limited by bloodlines, resumes, or human expectations. His word hasn’t failed—not then, not now. What Paul is saying confronts my instinct to measure belonging by externals. Being part of God’s family has never been about physical descent or religious pedigree. It has always been about promise. About God speaking life where there was none and calling a people to Himself simply because He willed it.

The story of Isaac and Jacob blows my mind because it exposes how upside-down grace really is. Before either child had done anything—good or bad—God chose. Not because of effort. Not because of merit. Not because one earned it more than the other. God’s purposes moved forward because He calls. That means my place in God’s family rests on His faithfulness, not my performance. I’m not here because I proved myself worthy; I’m here because God keeps His promises.

And here’s the crazy, awe-filled truth: in Christ, I’ve been swept into that promise. I’ve been adopted into God’s chosen people—not by birth, not by effort, but by grace. I belong because God said so. That truth humbles me, steadies me, and fills me with worship. My identity is rooted in God’s sovereign love, not my shifting obedience.

APPLICATION

When I’m tempted to define myself by success, failure, or comparison, I want to return to this truth: I am a child of promise. God did not choose me because I was impressive; He chose me because He is faithful. Today, I will rest in the security of being adopted by grace and let that assurance shape how I live—grateful instead of striving, humble instead of proud, confident instead of fearful. My life is not about earning God’s favor but responding to the unbelievable gift of being called His own.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,  and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”  This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.  For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,  though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—  she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”  As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:6-13

God’s purposes have always been guided by His sovereignty rather than human expectation. Paul makes it clear that God’s promise was never about biological lineage alone—“not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.” The stories of Isaac over Ishmael, and Jacob over Esau, expose a pattern that feels both humbling and awe-inspiring: God is the One who calls, and His call isn’t bound by human customs, birth order, or merit. He works according to His own wisdom, not our assumptions about how blessing should flow.

What stands out to me is how these examples dismantle any idea that I can earn God’s favor or position myself as more “deserving” than someone else. Jacob wasn’t chosen because he was morally superior—his story proves the opposite. God’s choice reveals His freedom to pour out mercy according to His own purposes. That truth can feel unsettling, but it also brings a deep steadiness. My belonging to God isn’t fragile, contingent on performance, or threatened by my failures. It rests on His initiative, His promise, His character. The more I sit with that, the more it pushes me toward humility and gratitude.

APPLICATION

I want to live in the quiet confidence that my place with God is secure because He established it, not because I’ve earned it. Instead of comparing myself to others or trying to justify my worth, I want to rest in His calling and trust His wisdom in how He works in the lives around me. When I’m tempted to question God’s methods or timing, I’ll choose humility—remembering that His purposes are wiser, deeper, and more faithful than anything I could construct on my own.

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.  They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:1-5

This passage reveals a side of Paul that’s easy to overlook: the depth of his anguish for those who don’t know Christ. His words are weighty—he speaks of “great sorrow and unceasing anguish,” even saying he could wish himself “accursed” if it meant the salvation of his own people. This isn’t abstract theology; it’s a window into a heart shaped by the love of Jesus. Paul sees the extraordinary privileges God entrusted to Israel—adoption, glory, covenants, promises, the patriarchs, and ultimately Christ Himself—and yet he aches because so many have missed the very Messiah those blessings pointed to.

What challenges me most is the intensity and purity of Paul’s grief. He isn’t angry at those who rejected the gospel, nor does he distance himself from them. Instead, he carries a burden rooted in love—a burden that reflects the very heart of Christ, who wept over Jerusalem and gave Himself for those who did not recognize Him. Paul’s sorrow is not despair; it’s compassion. It’s a reminder that spiritual truth isn’t just something to understand but something that should move my heart toward others with the same longing God has.

APPLICATION

I want to ask God to soften my heart for those who don’t know Him. It’s easy to respond with frustration, indifference, or self-protection, but Paul’s example pushes me to love more deeply and pray more earnestly. I want my compassion to grow—not just in theory, but in real concern for real people. Instead of shrinking back or becoming numb, I’ll carry their names before God and look for opportunities to reflect Christ’s love to them.