June 3
ROMANS 12
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:9-15
ROMANS 12 MARKS OF A TRUE BELIEVER
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As a true believer, you are to have genuine love
Hate what is wicked and cling to what is good
Love one another as Christ has loved you
Surpass each other in showing respect and honor
When trials come, rejoice for you are not alone
God is always there for you, you are not abandoned
When someone does you wrong, forgive that person
Continue to show kindness to him and to everyone
Show compassion to those who are in pain and grieving
Do not fail to acknowledge someone who is suffering.
In this letter, Paul enumerates some of the manifestations of the Spirit’s work in a believer’s life. On our own, we will not be able to do this because of our sinful nature. It is amazing how Paul gives us a clear illustration how a true believer would look like if they walk in the Spirit of the Lord. In verse 9, he defines what a genuine love is. He gives us a picture of Psalm 1:1-2 which says that blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but he delights in the law of the Lord and on his law, he meditates day and night. Genuine love is walking in righteousness and have nothing to do with wickedness.
Verse 2 is one of my favorite verses because if we outdo one another in love and showing honor, there will be no conflicts in this world. It is totally the opposite of the world system where people focus on gathering pleasures and cravings for self-satisfaction.
REFLECTION
· Which of these marks of a true believer mentioned do you still struggle with?
