Today we are encountering what I consider one of the most
beautiful and challenging Scriptures in the New Testament, Romans 12:9-21. After calling for us to submit our will and
our lives as an offering to God’s pleasure, and after emphasizing that every person
is given gifts to use for the good of Christ’s body, Paul says to practice
“genuine love”:
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is
good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one
another in showing honor.11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in
spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in
suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the
saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse them.15 Rejoice with those
who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with
one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to
be wiser than you are.
17 Do
not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight
of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live
peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but
leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies
are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for
by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
These verses are exhortations, commandments made in love for
us all. They call us to be thoughtful,
discerning, connected, genuinely loving Christians. And they tell us how:
1.
Know the difference between good and evil.
2.
Love and honor one another, thinking more of
others than ourselves.
3.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering,
persevere in prayer.
4.
Practice “radical” generosity and hospitality.
5.
Bless those who attack you, don’t belittle or
condemn them.
6.
Be empathetic, understand the feelings of others
and emotionally journey with them.
7.
Practice humility and honor all people.
8.
Take the “high road” in disputes.
9.
Value peaceful relations.
10.
Let God deal with resentments and “payback.”
11.
Be kind, even to enemies.
12.
Overcome evil with good.
This is a tall order for living! If we focus on these exhortations, we have
little time to point fingers at others because it is a full time job to live up
to Christ’s call to discipleship. God is
calling us to “be the love” the world needs, living as examples of God’s
Word. Far from denying the evil in the
world or ignoring it, we are called to practice genuine love.
May we grow together as we love God and others in worship,
word and deed!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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