So I get it..you're supposed to love people, love our brothers, love those that hate us, etc. And it's pretty intense that to say when you love God but secretly you hate your brother its the same as never loving God...intense.....convicting.. But what is this love supposed to look like...I take you to the second half of Romans 12 because it also rocked my world.
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Sincerity, Humility, Devotion, Hospitality, Patience, Joy, Honor, Generosity, Peace, Empathy
This is how we love those people in our lives that we wish maybe were never a part of them..the people that God always seems to place in our life to teach us how to love...the people that we might not think deserve this kind of love...but we love them because as Jesus followers, as lovers of Christ, it is what is asked of us. To extend the love that Christ gives us out..to show the world what real love is. Human love and Godly love...so different. I can love out of my gifting of relationship and empathy and it might look pretty good but loving out of a direct supply of Godly love...so very different. Because it looks like Romans 12 and those are things not even the best human can do by themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment