Day 146 | Wednesday, 12 August 2020

Day 146 - Audio Version

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​Day 146  |  Wednesday, 12 August 2020     
 
Forgot on Monday – Exercise Group #3

Romans 12:9-21  CEB
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. 11 Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! 12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 14 Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. 16 Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. 17 Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.

18 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. 19 Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord. 20 Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head. 21 Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

The Message
9 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 10 Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.  13 Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.  14 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.  15 Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.  16 Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.  17 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone.  18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody.  19 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."  20 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.  21 Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

 “Holiness of Heart and Life” “Marks of a Christian”
          “Love is routinely preached.  But the litmus test of this love is whether it is genuine or hypocritical, out of self-interest or putting others’ well-being first.

          “Wesley’s general rules of ‘doing no harm, avoiding evil, and doing good of every possible sort’ are ways to help us practice love in our lives.  For Wesley, faith and works are two sides of the same coin.

          “Wesley’s ‘going on to perfection’ requires the practice of spiritual disciplines.  Love is expressed in works of piety, our devotion to God, works of mercy, and our compassionate treatment of others.” 

Wesley Study Bible CEB page 1434
 We all know that the greatest commandment is all about loving others as we love ourselves.  If we do not love ourselves, then how can we love others?  This section from Romans is a reminder that loving others is such an important part of our relationship with God.  It reminds us that we cannot fake our love for others and that loving others is not about us.  We may find some folks really hard to love, that is when we leave them up to God and let God deal with them.

 Today: is your love from the center or do you fake it on occasion? 
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Holy God, make us more loving, right from our centers.  Lord, hear our prayers.  Amen