“Be DEVOTED to one another in brotherly love; GIVE PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER IN HONOR, not lagging behind in diligence, FERVENT IN SPIRIT, serving the Lord…” (Romans 12:10-11)
Paul is giving a list of short commands to those who are in Christ. He is describing what it means to LIVE AS A SELF–SACRIFICING CHRISTIAN. In the previous verse, he wrote that OUR LOVE for each other must be SINCERE AND GENUINE. Those of us who are Christ ARE TRULY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. God ADOPTS US as His children, welcoming us into His family. That family includes everyone who knows God as Father. Brothers and sisters, of course, don’t always get along. In most families, however, they share a loyalty and sense of belonging THAT SURPASSES MOST NORMAL FRIENDSHIPS.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY, FROM THE HEART. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:22-25) Paul’s second command in this verse urges us to compete, in a sense. We’re told to OUTDO ONE ANOTHER IN SHOWING HONOR to each other. If each of us acted on this, every person in the body of Christ would always feel deeply honored by the others and would never be satisfied that we are honoring one another enough. We would be motivated to continue asking, “HOW CAN I SHOW MORE HONOR THAN HE SHOWED TO ME?”
Jesus said, “My COMMAND (entolē: that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office) is this: LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. GREATER LOVE has no one than this: TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12-14)
OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO ENJOY GOD TOGETHER WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS AND, AS WE MOVE THROUGH LIFE, TO SHARPEN OUR FRIENDS AND TO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE SHARPENED BY THEM.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham