Romans
12:9-11 (NLT)
Don’t
just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly
to what is good. Love
each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each
other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Romans 12 may be
one of the most stimulating and interesting chapters of the New Testament. Paul has spent the first 11 chapters of
Romans establishing the theory, the basis for the Christian faith and in
Chapter 12 he turns to the practical applications of that faith. Romans 12:1-2 is one my life’s verses, as it
is for many Christians because of the emphasis on personal dedication of body
and mind. Romans 12:3-8 speaks of the
seven motivational spiritual gifts that the Lord gives to His
believers—prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and
showing mercy. I believe that each
Christian is given at least one of these gifts that motivates each of us to
serve the Lord in that capacity. Indeed,
spirit-filled Christians have all the gifts of God, but one gift particularly
is truly motivational to each of us, i.e. a gift that we really love to do
and/or apply.
Romans 12:9-13
teach how each Christian should behave in the family of God. You are to love others without being
hypocritical. You can only do this if
you allow the Spirit of Christ to fill you and guide you and not allow your own
limited human nature to be in control.
You are to hate what is wrong.
Hate is a strong word, yet the original Greek word used is “aspostugeo”,
meaning “to detest utterly”. Do you
utterly detest evil? This is a question
for more elaborate discussion as Christians and the church do not apply this
exhortation as we should.
Do you take
delight in honoring others? This means
to show high respect for others, to tell them how much you think of them, to
encourage them. Likewise others are to
do the same to you. When you come to
church do you know that there is someone, hopefully more than one, who loves
you, who is really glad to see you? Do
you come to church in anticipation of showing love and caring to others?
Verse 11 contains
three more exhortations-- never be lazy, work hard, and serve the Lord
enthusiastically--each of which not only are expected behaviors of Christians
toward one another, but also how we honor the Lord with our lives of
service. How would you be “graded” in
these behaviors? How can you improve?
Please pray about this.
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