It's Not About You

 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:9-18 ESV).

 

Continuing our brief look at the desire God has for us to love one another, I though of our reading today. The Apostle Paul gives a comprehensive description of what our relationships should look like. It reminded me of an old saying that goes something like this: “If you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know one thing for certain: somebody helped it get up there.” The meme I’ve chosen to accompany today’s devotional speaks to that… we’re all in this together. Honestly, we really can’t live in harmony or peace with one another and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. So, today I want to suggest that we being this part of our journey with the specific intention of following the example of Jesus.

 

Although our emphasis is on “loving one another,” the opera­tive word in all this is grace.

The context of our reading is the apostle urging us to offer our bodies “as a living sacrifice” in our worship of God (cf. Romans 12:1-2). And as a result of our relationship with God, grace leads to loving relationships with others, in which we show God’s love in tangible ways. He goes on to say that is a result of a “renewing” of our minds (v. 2). We simply need to think differently. Our life in this world is not designed to revolve around our­selves. As we mature in our Christian walk, we realize we’re not the only ones here, and, by God’s grace, we become less selfish. Life centers less on us. At one time we needed help, and we grow to help others.

 

This is a process. When you became a Christian, that doesn’t mean you immediately love as Jesus does. But as you grow in devotion to God, you also become devoted to one another as believers, and you learn to honor others above yourself. The word “honor” implies giving something its proper weight, recognizing its importance and value to God. This process requires humility, courage, and perseverance.