November 1, 2021 - Romans 12:9-21
There something very special when you observe the gentle touch of a mother as she cares for her child. Radiance shines forth from her eyes and a glow illuminates her face as gently and carefully that tender baby is caressed. The same can be true of an elderly couple as they walk slowly together knowing one another's pace and carefully helping and adjusting to steady and assist one another.
Paul speaks of love in this passage. It has been compared to the great love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 and like that passage, it follows a section on spiritual gifts. Paul desired for the church body to work together in harmony and to recognize that the need for one another was necessary as each part of the body could not effectively work without other members!
The beginning of this section is a general exhortation to love. It must be done with sincerity and genuineness. It is not to be done with hypocrisy or with a mask as actors of ancient Greece would wear in plays. It was to be real and sincerely demonstrated. This authentic love was marked by nine characteristics that cause love to resonate from the assembly of believers (v.10-13). As we exercise the spiritual gifts Christ has given the body, we will naturally and willingly serve the Lord and meet the needs of the saints.
The writer then turns from the body and the unity of believers to the care and love for those outside that are persecuting and cursing them unceasingly. Paul's admonition is for the believers to look for and actively be involved in ministry of true love toward the enemy. The believer is to seek to obey God by ministering to their enemies and return good for evil. True love will be manifested despite the actions and offenses that evil persons naturally live out, rejecting the Savior.
This week there will be people who may choose to speak evil or act out maliciously toward you. Someone may bully or intentionally seek to defame your character. How will we as believers respond? Paul challenges his readers to react as Christ did by turning the other cheek and feeding, giving drink, and overcoming evil with good through love. Our natural inclination is to strike back but Paul's teachings direct the transformed believer to think, act and react like the Savior. "... overcome evil with good" by manifesting the love of Christ in all we do toward both believer and unbeliever!
With an Expectant Hope,
Pastor Miller