Verse of the day: Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to
what is good.
As God’s people, our aim in life is to honor God with
our lives, for His glory. King Solomon summed up the Book of Ecclesiastes by
telling us that we are to fear God, keep His commandments because He will bring
every work into judgement, whether good or bad (Eccl 12:13-14). Before I
continue, let us be clear that our works, in and of themselves, gain us nothing.
Our salvation comes by faith and faith alone (Eph 2:8-9). However, as a
Christian, we are not exempt from following and applying God’s Word to our
lives. Jesus said that if we love Him we will obey His commandments (Jn 14:15).
James tells us that by our works we will demonstrate our faith (Jm 2:18). Our
works and God honoring behavior should come as a result of our faith, and not
as a means to try to gain favor and salvation from God; as all our works of
righteousness (in and of themselves) are like filthy rags to God (Is 64:6). As
God’s children, we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:20); we are to be
salt and light in this dark and lost world (Mt 5:13-16). If this is so, then
how do we season this world and bring light into this world and the relationships
that He allows us to develop here on earth? First, the foundation for any
relationship begins with our relationship with Jesus. Only through the working
of the Holy Spirit in us, and through us, will we be able to truly honor God
with our behavior. The Apostle Paul beseeches us in the beginning of this
chapter to be living sacrifices to God; dead to the world, but alive to serve
Him (12:1). We are to renew our minds and not be conformed to this world’s ways
(12:2). In other words, in order to truly live in a way that honors God, we
must first allow God’s Word to change how we think, and what we think about the
things we will face each day as born again believers. In today’s verse, we see
that our love must not be like the world’s love. The unsaved will only love when
they are loved. We are called to love as Jesus loves; unconditionally,
regardless of whether the person is friend or foe. Our love is to be without
hypocrisy, in other words, it is not to be just in word or profession, but it
must manifest itself in deeds of kindness and a willingness to sacrifice,
seeking nothing in return. We are to hate that which is evil (malicious or
unkind). This is not saying that we are to hate those who do what is malicious
or unkind, but we are to hate their actions. Love dictates that we love and
pray for those who are unkind and malicious toward us (Mt 5:44); and hating
evil we are to avoid returning evil for evil; instead, returning good for evil
(Rm 12:17; 1 Thess 5:15). In hating what is evil, we are to cling to what is
good. We are to be glued to that which God says is good toward all people, not
just some, and not just toward those that show good toward us. This is to be
done consistently, actively, and decisively. Being glued to what is good is to
always seek to do that which leads to God’s glory and the good of others.
Although the principle is simple, the act will not be easy. In doing what is
right before God, we will be challenged by this world system, Satan, and our
own personal battle with our flesh, and for this reason we must be consistent
with our prayers, study of God’s Word, and active application of God’s truth.
The task is not impossible, because nothing is impossible for the God who saved
us and indwells us.
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