Thursday 1 Nov 2012

Thursday Reading: Romans 12:9-21

Key Verse: Romans 12:16
16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Devotion:
I think that I have used these verses quite a few times over the past years, but it is because of their wording that I keep coming back to them. These verses encompass a great definition of what Christian love should be about and a great reminder of just how many ways we do corrupt the love that we like to think we have toward others.

Christian love must be honest, open, free from deceit, sincere and needs to be real. There is little value in telling people that we love them unless we are willing to show them we love them. Imagine what it would be like to have someone continually tell you that they were going to improve your life in many ways, and when you vote them into power they fall back on every one of those promises… Oh, wait, that sounds like most governments in the world today! Too many people are into things because of the glory that they can gain from them instead of just showing people that they care and want to share!

If we are not willing to reach out to the people around us so that they know that we care, then we are nothing different from any other selfish person in the world. God has given us our positions so that we can demonstrate Christian love toward others; He has given us a position on His staff so that we can continue to show others of His great love toward all men. He does not call us to judge others and decide who needs our support but rather to support anyone and everyone who we meet. It is not our call to decide who God brings into our lives but the will of God – we just need to work with God and love and support those who He brings into our lives.

What sort of person would we be if we said we were Christian but chased people away? What sort of person would we be is we said we were Christian and turned our backs on others? If we want to be called Christians then we need to take on the mantle of a Christian and show Christian love to everyone that God brings through our lives. Sometimes that may well seem to go against what we think is best, but at those times I put it to you that we are lifting up our own thoughts and desires instead of lifting up God and His ways. If we are willing to think about God’s ways as the Romans are here reminded, then we too can move forward in Christian love with Christ.

Points to Ponder:
Are you picky about who you let into your life?

Why has God chosen you first?