Author: Ben Bourland

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 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.

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.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written,       
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

These verses confront me with a truth I often affirm with my lips but struggle to believe in the hard places of life: nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Paul doesn’t shy away from naming the real pressures—tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, danger, even death itself. These aren’t hypothetical; they’re the very experiences that make me question God’s nearness. Yet Paul’s point is that these circumstances, as overwhelming as they feel, are powerless to break the bond Jesus Himself has secured.

What strikes me most is the fierce, triumphant tone of this passage. I’m not “barely making it” through the love of Christ—I am “more than a conqueror.” Not because I’m strong or resilient, but because His love is active, fighting for me, holding me, carrying me. The sweep of Paul’s list—height, depth, angels, rulers, things present, things to come—feels like he’s grabbing every possible threat my imagination could raise and slamming the door shut. God’s love isn’t fragile or conditional. It doesn’t waver with my emotions or crumble under the weight of suffering. It’s anchored in the finished work of Jesus, and therefore it is unbreakable.

APPLICATION

Today I want to live from security, not fear. When circumstances shake me or uncertainty presses in, I’ll remind myself that God’s love is not at risk. My feelings may rise and fall, but His grip on me does not loosen. I want to walk through the day with a quiet confidence—knowing that I am held, pursued, and fiercely loved by Christ, and nothing I face can separate me from Him.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:31-34

These verses shift my focus from my fears to the staggering reality of God’s commitment to me. Paul’s question—“If God is for us, who can be against us?”—isn’t a call to ignore difficulties, but to see them in their proper scale. The God who did not spare His own Son is the same God who watches over my life with unwavering intention. When I pause long enough to consider that, it disarms the quiet anxieties that whisper I’m alone, unsupported, or at risk. God has already proven the extent of His love in the costliest way imaginable.

And then Paul goes even further: not only has Christ died and risen, He is now at the right hand of God interceding for me. The very One who knows my weaknesses, my inconsistencies, and my ongoing struggles is the One who speaks on my behalf. It means the accusations—whether from the enemy, from others, or from my own self-condemning thoughts—do not get the final word. There is a greater Advocate, and His defense is rooted in His finished work, not my fluctuating performance.

APPLICATION

Today I want to live as someone defended, not someone on trial. Instead of letting fear, guilt, or imagined threats dictate my mindset, I’ll anchor my thoughts in the truth that God is decisively for me. Christ intercedes for me right now, in this moment, and I want my confidence to flow from that reality. When I face pressure or uncertainty, I’ll remind myself: I am not alone, and I am not undefended. God Himself stands with me.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

This passage should always stop us in our tracks. It reminds me that God’s work in my life is far bigger than anything I can measure in the moment. Paul doesn’t say that everything that may befall us or this world is good (satan is loose and sin has corrupted this world), but that everything is worked for good—reshaped, repurposed, woven into something only God could accomplish. And the more I reflect on that, the more I realize how limited my perspective really is. I naturally want God’s goodness to look like resolution, clarity, or blessing I can observe right now. But this passage pushes me to lift my eyes. God isn’t simply managing my comfort; He’s forming Christ in me.

The sequence Paul lays out—foreknown, predestined, called, justified, glorified—reveals that God is sovereign over the entire arc of my existence. My story doesn’t begin with my effort, and it won’t end with my limitations. His plans for me were in motion before I was conscious of Him (before all of time actually), and His final work will outlast my lifetime. The “good” He’s working may unfold in ways I never see with earthly eyes: healing that happens in future generations, faith strengthened in others because of my suffering, or fruit that grows long after I’m gone. God’s sovereignty means that nothing is wasted, even when it feels like everything is unfinished.

APPLICATION

Today I want to choose trust over immediacy. I may never witness the full good God is weaving from my circumstances, and that has to be okay. My job is not to demand visibility but to walk faithfully with Him—loving Him, seeking Him, and believing that His purposes for me are anchored in eternity. When I don’t understand the storyline, I’ll rest peacefully in the Author.