Not Envious, But Genuine

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  – Romans 12:10

It is sad to learn that someone you trusted, with whom you thought you shared a relationship of brotherly affection, turned their back on you for their own gain. Judas did that to Jesus – walking with Him for three years but offering Him up to the Jewish leaders in the end. A relationship lost to selfish motives. 

Romans 12 is Paul’s warning to the Christian believers that they are not immune to the evils of the devil. In fact, it is Satan’s desire to cause dissension among those who profess love for the Lord. The secular world is full of people who do not care about who they step on as they climb the ladder of success. Some in the Church have even lost sight of the reason for serving, desiring credit and recognition for what they do.  

Paul’s exhortation is a call for holy living in obedience to God’s Word, a call to put others before self, giving them honor, appreciation, and acknowledgment instead of envious rivalry. Let your love for others be as if they were your own family… because they are your family in Christ. Let your love be genuine, sincere, not merely of words, but with the same tenderness you have for a close family member. The virtue here is love covered in humility! 

There seems to be very little evidence of genuine love in the public arena today. Pray, then, that the love of believers who serve in federal, state, and local governments across this nation will stand firmly planted with humility of spirit, so their example will resonate in the hearts of those with whom they work. 

Today’s Verse: Romans 12:10

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 John 4:19-5:5

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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