Romans 12:9 & 10
So last night was our weekly bible study. We talked about the two verse above. I’m sure Dave had more planned but we had a great night of discussion on what this really means. We talked about what sincere love is. What it looks like. That it is a genuine feeling a feeling that is real. Not the kind that is one thing when someone is around and something else when they aren’t.
To hate what is evil is to know that the evil will bring down community. It is like a spoiled apple it will soon spoil the whole bucket. To cling to what is good is to grow that community and to make it what it could be. Good will always improve things the bad will always bring it down. And who wants that.
Being devoted to one another means that you are loving a loyal to that person. The brotherly love is where it gets hard. We are called to love every Christian with the same love that you have for your brother or sister. That is a love that no matter what is always there. Even in conflict or trials or disputes the Love is there. Dave explained brotherly love as affection every Christian should feel towards one another and be DELIGHTED in it. There should be that pleasure in loving each other. We got into a discussion about what that looks like. What keeps us from doing that and being completely real. What is it. Well it’s fear. Fear that has come from our past hurts and times where that love wasn’t returned the way it should. How do we get past that fear how do we get to the point where we don’t care what others think, feel or act. My leader last year Chris would say its Intimacy. Everything goes back to that. You have to get to the point where it really only matters what the Lord says that is what matters. And to get there you have to spend time with him and get to the point where He alone is enough for you.
To honor others above you is easy. But when someone else honors someone above you that is when jelousy arises. We are so willing to but ourselves last but don’t like it when others do. In 1Peter 5:5-6 says clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. The Lord will give you praise when you can take it. There are times that if I were praised I would get proud and it wouldn’t be good. A quote that Dave shared with us last night was– “So much can get done if you don’t worry about the credit”. Its so true. If people just did stuff and didn’t care who got the credit so much would get done.
So I leave you with a couple questions. Is your love for your community, family, friends sincere? Do you cling to the evil or the good. Are you excited to love them with a love that loves no matter what? And do you really care if you get earthly credit or is it the heavenly one that really matters?
