My NIV calls this section of Scripture, "Love." I see it more as "Practicing Love". Love requires a conscious effort on my part, and for it to penetrate my soul, I actually have to put it to practice. Every effort I put into loving my wife all draws me closer to her and her closer to me. The same goes for my actions towards my children. They learn to love by watching and responding to me.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 (NIV)Love is too important not to spend effort and time on. As verse 9 says, love is sincere. Another version (the New King James Version) says that love must by without hypocrisy. I cannot love someone and show contempt for them at the same time. I cannot love someone and manipulate them. I cannot love some people and not others.
Verse 9 also tells me to hate evil while clinging to what is good. Evil intentions sear the soul. To hate evil is to stand up when love is not being practiced and to step away from attitudes that would mar love. Clinging to good things builds an attitude which grows one's gratitude. The good things are worth remembering and experiencing. They help us keep our focus on loving others and God. Besides, loving others (especially difficult family members or friends or bosses) is birthed out of God's passion for us. The more passionate you are about God the more passionately you care about others.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 (NIV)Verse 10 is a love practice that requires us to pay attention to the needs of others. To do so, we must learn to be patient with others and work for the good in their lives. Being devoted is a loyalty issue but it is not acceptance sinful behavior. It is a loyalty that empowers us to hold each other accountable to Christ. It is also a growth issue which helps us to love others regardless of the sin in their lives.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 (NIV)Verse 11 is a challenge to serve others especially those in the church. Spiritual fervor or fire grows through service. As Jesus says, "You serve Me when you serve the least of these." Our service is an extension of His love, and it courses through our veins creating that spiritual fire. Spiritual fire is just a great way of saying I am passionate about God, and that fire shows through our actions and attitudes. Kind of like watching Alabama trample Florida in the SEC Championship. They were on fire about what they wanted to achieve. Spiritual fire or fervor emboldens us and keeps us from quitting or giving up. We all could us a little fire in our lives (spouses for their spouses, etc).
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)I think that verse 12 is unique when it comes to practicing love. Be joyful in hope because our hope comes from God. There is joy in hope. Be patient in affliction so hope is not spoiled. Be faithful in prayer because faithful prayer stirs hope and spawns patience. Faithful prayer turns your eyes back to the answer that provides your hope. It is cyclical. Joy is spawned in hope which spawns more joy. Patience overcomes affliction while affliction embraces patience. Faithfulness shows in our desire for God through prayer while prayer shows our faithfulness.
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 (NIV)Verse 13 is a special verse. It doesn't mention that hospitality is a gift (and it is), yet we are all to practice it. There is a specific command here: share with those in the church who have need. This means to learn how to give beyond my excess. I don't have to go broke, but I do need to practice more humility and learn to give as the need presents itself. In other words, set up a rainy day fund for others whether through financial support or volunteering.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NIV)Verses 14 and 17-21 all go together. Love isn't just for God's people. Love is an extension of God's care to the world. For example, we are currently fighting a war against terrorists. Our greatest enemies in World War II are now two of our are strongest allies. How do we breach the evil that persists in our new enemies "if it is possible"? Well aren't all things possible through Jesus who gives us strength?
We have the right to defend ourselves as a nation but where does defense cross the line and become vengeance? My highest priority is to live at peace with others as much as possible. I really do need to pray about these verses because they stir is me such a desire for peace yet I understand that the religious influence behind these heinous acts of brutality and murder committed by Islamic extremists will never be compatible with the Way of life given to us through Christ.
At the same time God created government and God establishes government (as we will see in chapter 13). Our government is supposed to act out God's plans for justice. So carrying out a just war is not beyond the limitations of our government.
I said all that to say this:
I cannot control some things in life and to sweat over them means I am trying to act in God's place. God has established institutions in this world to care for great issues. My job is to care for those issues I can personally change such as showing love towards someone who has wronged me to the best of my ability.
Verses 15 and 16 show more ways of sharing love:
- Rejoice with those who rejoice - prevents envy and besides, it is fun and healthy to laugh
- Mourn with those who mourn - there is not a better way to learn love than to sincerely mourn with someone who has lost someone or something like a job
- Live in harmony - harmony comes from sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, engaging in corporate worship, and studying the Bible. In other words, standing on common ground between man and God
- Don't be proud - never think too highly of yourself. It causes resentment and hinders your ability to be genuine with love
- Be willing to associate with people of "low" positions - love doesn't care about social status. Jesus said to come as you are, and He means all people. We must go to them and be prepared to serve the "lowliest"
- Don't be conceited - I'm not always right, and I don't have all the answers
- What are two ways you can show love (or care) towards people you work with (including your boss)? What is stopping you?
- What is clinging to you that hinders your ability to love others?
- How do you feel after you have been hospitable to someone?
- Are you missing joy? What do you turn to when you need to experience joy?
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