READ: Romans 12 (Focus vs. 9-16)
MEMORY VERSE
“{Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.” Romans 12:13
BACKGROUND
With extra time on my hands, my plan for the coming months centered on serving people as much as I could. But while helping a new friend, I tripped and fell and broke my arm in three places. Suddenly I was the one in need.
God’s people cared for me with visits, gift cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, prayers, meals (and even a box of chocolates), and by running errands. I couldn’t believe how kind my family, friends, and fellow church members were!
It was as if God were saying, “Sit down. You need help. You’ll see what caring looks like.” Because of them, I know more about serving from the heart and feeling grateful to God for others.
Fellow believers eagerly helped me in the ways Paul instructed the church members living in Rome to follow (Romans 12). He encouraged them in many ways, including to love sincerely, to be devoted to one another in love, to honor others, and to share with those in need (vv. 9-13).
Paul taught them doctrine throughout his letter. But he also shared that life in Christ isn’t abstract theology—it’s shown in our practical daily living (chs. 12-16). God’s way is love. Receiving and then pouring out His love on others is one of many ways to express His love for us.
As we look for and find everyday ways to serve people in our churches or communities, they’ll be encouraged, we’ll be blessed, and God will be praised.
Anne Cetas
INSIGHT
A pattern found in several of Paul’s church letters (see Ephesians and Colossians) is that he teaches a section of doctrine followed by a section of practical application and response.
In Romans, the doctrinal teaching is found in chapters 1-11, with practical response dominating chapters 12-16.
The key transition point is the word therefore in 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Paul is saying that because of the love and grace God has demonstrated for us as described in chapters 1-11, we can have the heart response described in chapters 12-16. As one pastor said, “What we believe must influence and impact how we behave as God’s ambassadors.”
God’s love for us enables us to pour out His love on others.
Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
Who needs your help this week? What will you do?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“…Life in Christ isn’t abstract theology- it’s shown in our practical daily living…Receiving and then pouring out His love on others is one of many ways to express His love for us… (His) love for us enables us to pour out His love on others.”
PR’s TAKE
“If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” 1John 4:20 nlt
“Love locked in our hearts is like a letter written and not sent.” – Jane Lindstrom “Without love and compassion for others, our own apparent love for Christ is fiction.” – Thomas Merton
PRAYER
“You’re kind beyond measure, God. Please help me to receive and give Your love to those around me.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“LOVING GOD LOVING EACH OTHER” Gaithers
Loving God, loving each other
Making music with my friends
Loving God, loving each other
And the music never ends
They pushed back from the table
To listen to His words
His secret plan before He had to go
It’s not complicated
Don’t need a lot of rules
This is all you’ll need to know
Loving God, loving each other
Making music with my friends
Loving God, loving each other
And the music never ends
We tend to make it harder
Build steeples out of stone
Fill with explanations of The Way
But if we’d stop and listen
And break a little bread
We wuld hear the Master say
Loving God, loving each other
Making music with my friends
Loving God, loving each other
And the music never ends
