ESOCS Devotional 15 September 2024 – Love is the Foundation
MEMORY VERSE: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NIV
TEXT: ROMANS 12:1-END
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Let’s start by reviewing what we’ve already looked at in Romans 12. We started by remembering—and looking back—at the mercies of God. As we think about His mercies, all that He has done for us, and remember how He has rescued us and given us life despite our brokenness, we can’t help but be moved to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice—this is what true and proper worship looks like.
Naturally, that leads to the question: “How do we sacrifice our bodies?” Paul explains that it is by living a sanctified life and aging in humble service to others in the Body of Christ, the Church. He explains how we all have a role to play; we have giftings that are tailor-made for the community of believers that we’re a part of. As such, we’re to use those gifts God has given us to serve others and bring glory to God. We play the role God has given us to play within the community He has placed us.
The next question that comes to mind is, “What does that look like?” In our passage for this week, Paul describes for us in real, practical ways what our actions and attitudes should be like toward one another. All of these actions may seem like a random set of instructions, but I assure you they’re not. They’re all held together by two key thoughts: that we should love others and that we should seek to do the good that is God’s will. Some scholars think that Paul was employing material which was used from the early days in the church for the instruction of new Christians pertaining to the way they should behave. Notice that Paul begins with love; love is the foundation for everything we do.
- Have you ever prayed. for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God?
- Lord, I ask that you lead me through your Spirit as I go through life, bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what I will encounter. I say “Yes” to your will and ask for power and protection to live this “Yes.” I Ask for opportunities to proclaim the good news today and always, in Jesus name, Amen !
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-11; Proverbs 14:13-25; Matthew 6:1-18
ESOCS Devotional 15 September 2024
