I was slammed by this scripture this afternoon.

I pray that we would all consider that we have sinned against a holy God above all else, and in response to the grace that was given us, we would be able to extend a portion of that gift to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  

Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

John Piper, has a word on this deal as well,

The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.’” In other words, to become the kind of person who joyfully serves others rather than using them, consider Christ. Look at Christ. Especially look at his sin-bearing, substitutionary work on the cross. This is how we change: “Beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Look to Christ.

-se