Friday, March 30, 2012

March 31, 2012

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing  associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21

Here is what AMAZING LOVE looks like:

Sincere Love - "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good", V. 9

Selfless Love - "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves", V. 10     "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." V. 16 

Serving Love - "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." V. 11

Spiritual Love - "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." V. 12

Sharing Love - "Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." V. 13

Suffering Love -  "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." V. 14

Sympathetic Love - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." V. 15

Strategic Love - "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.  On 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. ”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Vv. 17-21

Does this description match the way you love God and others? Do you have sincere, selfless love that serves others? Do you have a spiritual love that leads you to share with those in need and to bless others even when you are suffering? Are you able to celebrate the successes of others as though they are you own? Do you share the grief of others?

AMAZING LOVE does! And this sort of love overcomes evil with good.