Life Lobbying!

We live in a world filled with SPECIAL INTEREST groups! These groups have an agenda and are continually lobbying politicians to bring about what they want. A lot of time, effort, and money is used by these groups to advance their desires and clever slogans are crafted to make their cause more appealing. However, what many SPECIAL INTEREST groups have in mind may neither be right nor even best for society as a whole. These groups are merely interested in furthering their own cause.

Toward the end of Paul's letter to the church at Rome he urged the following:
"(5) May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (6) that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (7) Therefore WELCOME ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST HAS WELCOMED YOU, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD." ( Romans 15:5-7)

The Greek word translated "welcome" and "welcomed" in verse 7 comes from "proslambano". The root word "lambano" means "to take" or "to receive", with "proslambano" meaning "to take to oneself" or "receive to oneself". What this word signifies is a SPECIAL INTEREST on the part of the receiver. [source: W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words] The New Living Translation uses the word "accept."

Jesus demonstrated His SPECIAL INTEREST in us by dying on the cross for our sins. Our Lord gave Himself with the desire of receiving us to Himself and becoming His possession. Paul's encouragement was that in view of this acceptance by Christ, we are to have the same SPECIAL INTEREST in one another! Such acceptance is truly a glorious thing to be experienced, especially in a "me" centered world. However, the greatest glory is that which God receives when His people are seen to display and be experiencing such a sense of BELONGING TO ONE ANOTHER. Our harmony with the Lord is to bring about harmony with each other. May we rejoice in the blessing of being a part of such a SPECIAL INTEREST group.

Have a great day PUSHING CHRIST'S AGENDA FOR RELATIONSHIPS!
Carl

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