Really Love Them

Meditations on Romans

September 16, 2021

Really Love Them

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

Romans 12:6a

Read Romans 12:6-13

As a pastor, one of the most difficult challenges I faced was in helping people claim their spiritual gifts. It has been my experience that most church attenders are very passive in their commitment to their membership vows. They are reluctant to affirm their spiritual gifts because it will mean they will become more active in church activities. Paul is so direct in affirming that every Christian has been given a gift by God for serving in the church. In the first half of today’s passage, Paul is urging us to use the gifts God has given us: “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Romans 12: 6b-8) Next, Paul presents his companion to serving: loving well.

This second half of today’s passage can easily be titled, Faith in Action. In just five verses, Paul identifies thirteen attributes of a life of faith. His list can give us pause to consider the words of the Apostle James, “I will show you my faith by my good deeds” (James 2:18b).

My Takeaway: Paul opened the second half of today’s reading with this statement: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them” (Romans 12:9a). I saw this attribute of a life of faith implemented beautifully recently when I attended a mission briefing by a young woman from our church. For the last twelve years she has been serving in the Philippines in a mission that is reaching out to street children and empowering them through education, shelter, and family restoration. (https://www.brandnewdayph.org)  So many lives are being changed because she really loves these children and earns their trust to offer them Christ. This pattern worked for Paul, it is working for the leaders in Brand New Day, and it will work in my life and your life also.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.