Romans 12:9-13 English Standard Version
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Tis the season for Good News!
Tis the season for glad tidings – for inexpressible indescribable heights of joy!
Unless, for you – it is not!
Tis the season also for inexpressible, indescribable depths of greatest sadness.
Such a depth of sadness will soon teach us to cling to what is good for survival.
In the ugly cry moments that always seem to arise in our lives, we can all cling, hold tightly to Christ Jesus, and know He absolutely understands how we feel.
Paul’s words in the verses above are often the very reason we are clinging as we cry, holding tightly to the comfort Christ Jesus provides.
“Don’t just pretend to love others,” he wrote to the Romans, “really love them.”
As iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), when we then take Paul’s words to heart, when we really give “tough” love unto others, it’s bound to get painful at times.
Paul wrote earlier in his letter to the Roman church, “we all fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
We are all flawed human beings-but we are flawed human beings covenanted by an absolutely Holy God to imitate Him, love each other as God first loved us.
Clinging to His Love, Living in Harmony Is Necessary
Wise believers acknowledge when Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another” (John 13:34-35), this was not simply a suggestion for getting along.
So too, the Bible’s commands us as to how we each treat one another shouldn’t be considered minimally optional – that’s not the nature of God’s commands.
As Christ’s followers, we must cling to the Word of God, cling to the life Jesus revealed to us throughout His Gospels, cling to His miracles, remember exactly how our very relationship with God affects our relationships with each other.
When we pray, “Our Father,” we acknowledge before God, our Father, Creator of heaven and earth, we are part of a family that includes sisters and brothers.
We are called to cling to the example set by Jesus – live in harmony together.
Today’s reading mentions specific ways of doing so, such as honoring one another above ourselves, holding tightly to what is good, praying faithfully, sharing with people in need, showing hospitality, and our not being proud.
When believers cling to harmony, live in harmony, expressing their love for one another by sharing tears of sadness in times of sorrow, expanding their joy by celebrating together, they become appealing witnesses to their hope in Christ.
When a family member or friend or a stranger or a coworker observes, “It’s amazing how you guys love each other,” the cause of Christ moves forward.
John 13:34-35 Easy-to-Read Version
34 “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”
Jesus went even further when He was alone with His Father, taught this when he prayed that all believers “may be one” “may be brought to complete unity.”
Then, ”He prayed unto the Father, “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).
John 17:22-23 Easy-to-Read Version
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me.
Now Comes the Hard Part – Actually Clinging to God!
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Joshua was about to take over for Moses who had just died, and God’s people were the most fickle and finicky to lead.
Long years with Moses had taught Joshua – always rebelling and losing faith.
The Lord faithfully clung to Joshua, encouraging him in his coming conquests.
The Lord is faithful to encourage us today, too. When life gets hard, and we find ourselves clinging …turn to the only One who can mend the cracks in our hearts.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father,
Praise You for the way You faithfully place people around us. When the hurt is so bad, and the fear of connecting with others is paralyzing, please remind us who we are in Christ Jesus. More than conquerors, we are Your children, equip us with hearts full of encouragement. Fill us with the love we need to cling to You, heal and move forward and pour out and spill onto others who are discouraged and in need of a faith-filled friend. Help us to be encouraged by the same words Moses encouraged Joshua with:
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 Easy-to-Read Version
7 Then Moses called Joshua. All the Israelites watched while Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and brave. You will lead these people into the land that the Lord promised to give to their ancestors. You will help the Israelites take that land and divide it among them. 8 The Lord will lead you. He himself is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Don’t worry. Don’t be afraid!”
Intersecting Faith and Life:
There is no one person we can guarantee will love us perfectly, but You do, Father. Help us to gain a clear understanding of who we are in Christ, and allow others grace. Help us to see the good in each of us, created in Your image. Father, when we find ourselves clinging too tightly to ourselves, it can cause us to fear. Remind us in those moments, tis always the good season You have placed people in our lives to encourage and love us, even at times when we’re having trouble loving ourselves.
Father of all forgiveness, mercy grace and compassion, when our hurts are too big to think of or talk about, we know the Holy Spirit takes them to you in prayer, and You meet us right where we are at. We confess our disobedient tendency to quit and run on people, God. It’s hard to cling to You alone, and You don’t shame or blame us for our feelings of fear. But help us to stick it out more, God. To stay with You as You stay with us, to stay with people, and learn the remarkable relationships which grow out from clinging to Your ageless example of forgiveness, mercy, grace, and compassion.
Mature us to be strong and courageous and to cling to the good. Allow us each to see people the way You do, Father, fearfully and wonderfully made. Father, we want to cling to You and we want to live with others in such a way that shows we are in a life-giving relationship with you. Grant us your Spirit to do so. In Jesus’ Name,
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 