Genuine Love is Transforming! (Romans 12)
12:30 PM
Our Scripture Reading: Romans 12
Today
is Thanksgiving Day, a day when many gather with friends and family to enjoy a
meal, companionship, and hopefully reflect upon the blessings of life they can
be thankful for. It reminds me of the early church gatherings, where those who
wanted to grow in Christ gathered in small groups within someone’s home to eat
together, share life together, and grow together spiritually.
Perhaps
you don’t have your physical family close this season. Don’t let that deter you
from knowing that you belong to a bigger family. Once you accept Christ, you
are adopted into a huge spiritual family. It’s part of God’s plan for you to
grow within relationships and not in isolation. Relationships are where we get
to practice what we learn in His Word and allow God to mold our hearts to
reflect the attributes of Christ.
God
wants to transform us and He wants us to be a vital part of the body of Christ.
In fellowship with like minded believers, we are encouraged, challenged, and
loved. I gather with a small group each week and it is amazing to study God’s
Word together, and to share and discuss how to put spiritual truths to work in
“real life”.
“Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
In
Romans 12, we are given examples of what a transformed life starts to look
like. I think the key to it all is in verse 9: LET LOVE BE GENUINE!
I
don’t think that we can achieve genuine love on our own. This is the kind of
love that only God can instill in the depths of our being. It’s a process of
yielding to Him, denying our selfish motivations, and learning to be grateful
for what we have as well as how to be genuinely concerned about the wellbeing
of others.
These
are the attributes that stood out to me:
-“Love
one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Romans
12:10
-“Rejoice
in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans
12:12
-“Contribute
to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Romans
12:13
-“Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
Romans 12:14
-“Rejoice
with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Romans
12:15
An
interesting observation, is that so much of what God asks of us in attitude and
thought involves how we view and interact with others. Even with just these
few, there’s a lot of room for God to do some major transformation work in my
heart. It’s a work I must allow Him to do. My part is to seek Him, and yield to
Him daily as He convicts me and whispers to me throughout the day.
What
about you? What stood out to you in this chapter? Are you in
fellowship with other Christians who can help you in your spiritual journey?
Are you renewing your mind by studying and applying God’s Word to daily life?
Are you yielding to His Spirit as He teaches you about genuine love? Remember,
It’s not about “What” we do. It’s about the transformed heart that
motivates us to action. It’s about genuine love.
Happy
Thanksgiving today and everyday!
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