Verse of the Day 8-29-22

Love In Action

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 to 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

In most modern Bibles this passage that you have just read is headed either the way I have headed it (which is how the NIV heads it) or some thing similar. The CSB (Christian Standard Bible) heads it this way, Christian Ethics. The NKJV (New King James Version) heads it this way, Behave Like a Christian. The ESV (English Standard Version) heads it this way, Marks of the True Christian.

In this section headed Love Action, Christian Ethics, Behave Like a Christian or Marks of the True Christian; Paul is continuing with the very practical consequences of loving one another, which seems logical but still requires a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) and, therefore, instruction from the apostles. He commends zeal verse 11, but this is zeal that accords with knowledge (Romans 10:2). Paul shows he knows Jesus’ teaching. To rejoice with the joyful and mourn with the mournful is part of being all things to all people for the salvation and benefit of others. Similarly, in Romans 12:17-18, Paul says that we should not give offense. We should fit in with the non-Christian world to the extent that we can in order to profess our faith, though without sinning. Part of living in peace means not taking revenge, for we can leave vengeance to God. Continuing to be kind to someone who has wronged us will heap burning coals on their heads. We must do good to those who harm us to that they will feel shame for their sins and may be won over to the Gospel (1 Peter 2:12).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive hate; only love can do that.” So let’s drive out the darkness of this world with the light we have, and let’s drive out the hate in this world with the love that we have been shown and are to to show to others on a daily basis.

Today’s Bible Readings:

Job 31-33, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 43:1-5 and Proverbs 22:8-9