Love in Action – A Lifetime and Forever
Jesus says love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Then Paul here puts some clothes on that to help us put love in action.
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
What a great picture of our life in the Kingdom now and forever. It is so clear and to the point. I cannot say I am good on these. I could put these on the wall and work on them my whole life and not be done. Hmm.
What is the purpose of meeting for Church? Do I need to have better preaching on Hebrew and Greek usage or details?
How Then Do We Live?
The Christian life takes a lot of energy to face ourselves and understand others and know God. Is not the key need to get energy for living our Romans 12 life Monday through Saturday?
It is not easy. As sinners, we easily develop or unknowingly maintain a facade. We need others close to us to help us and to see us as we often cannot see ourselves.
God’s goal is not to burden us with Romans 12. He is talking about the culture of the kingdom, just like I can think of the culture of China or America. We naturally do the things of our culture. But God’s culture is hard for us. We have trouble acquiring it. Then, we either have a facade or feel condemned. Or we daily actively absorb the culture of the kingdom of God under his grace and truth.
