Romans 12:9-13
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling
to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly
love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in
diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in
hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
The 1828 Webster’s
Dictionary defines the word “love” as: In
a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of
some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. We
love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his
society. We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters
into the composition of our affection. We love our parents and our children, on
account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which
please us. We love to retire to a cool shade in summer. We love a warm room in
winter. we love to hear an eloquent advocate. The Christian loves his Bible. We
speak of the love of amusements, the love of books, the love of money, and the
love of whatever contributes to our pleasure or supposed profit.
In short, we love whatever gives us pleasure and
delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love
God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which
can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the Christian
loves God with the love of complacency in His attributes, the love of
benevolence towards the interest of His kingdom, and the love of gratitude for
favors received. The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs
from just views of His attributes or excellencies of character, which afford
the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute
ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable
effect.
This week Michael writes how
the opening Bible passage clarifies three characteristics of “Love”. 1st
is the morality and ethics of love: that love and holiness go hand in
hand. Love must be genuine according to the Word. It's from a sincere
heart and combines the love of God and the holiness of God. Be horrified
by that which is evil and run away from it. Instead, cling to that which is
good. Glue yourself to what God says is good. 1 Corinthians 13, defines
the character and morality of love. “Love
is patient and kind, is not resentful, envious, or boastful. Love doesn't think evil of others and is not self seeking. Love Rejoices not in
iniquity but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails.” Abhor
that which is evil; it's the absence of God. Evil should terrify you, turn your stomach, and make
you sick. Whatever resembles depravity against God, you should pull your hand
away from immediately like when you touch a hot stove.
The second Characteristic of
love is that “Love is Active”. Love is an action verb. Verses 10 and
13 are about action. Love one another with brotherly affection because of
the previous context that “we are one body”. The adversary (the devil) will
divide people into factions, into strife and contentions which separate them
into different isolated clans. Ethnic groups divide people into competing
cultural and kinship divisions. However, Jesus Christ came to unify and not to
divide. The gospel brings together people from every tribe and
tongue. The command is to love one another with brotherly kindness as if
they were your immediate family. The gospel says, love one another as brothers
and sisters because in Christ we are children of God. Christians are brothers
and sisters bound by the perfect innocent sacrifice of the precious blood of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The competition is to love
and honor others even more than they love and honor you. You're competing
to out love and out honor your brother in Christ.
In Christ, Brian
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