Some reading to rock your face

I have been reading and studying Romans 12 for some time now. It’s one of the greatest chapters in bible. Take 3 minuets today and read this chapter, 3 minuets will do an eternity of good. Pay close attention to verse 9-20 it says a lot about love and a standard by witch we should live.

Romans 12:9-20 (New Living Translation)

⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ¹¹ Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.¹² Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. ¹³ When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!¹⁷ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.

²⁰ Instead,“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”

If I had to wrap up the whole of following after Christ I think this would be a fair way to do it. Often times I think Christians focus so much on just loving God that they don’t allow for other people’s mess ups. They forget that Jesus said, ” The greatest command is to love the Lord with all your hart, soul, and mind, BUT there’s a second that is equal to it, love your neighbor as your self.” Please don’t hear me wrong! We have to love God first and foremost but equal to our love for God we must love people. I think this is were maturity comes in. Verses 9 – 20 are all about maturity. If your live a petty life it’s next to impossible to honor someone over your self, or bless those you persecute you. I’ve never meet an immature person that was patient. Paul in his letter here is tell us to grow up and get some maturity about us. This is what a real follower of Christ looks like. There are a lot of people who claim to know God but until our life’s look like theses versus do we really have this Christianity thing down? My prayer is that as followers of Christ we start to learn to love people in instead of judging them out! We need to start our own love revelation! You can do it right where your at. We have amazing opportunity every day to love someone. In the store or restaurant, or how about even in your own family. Gaining maturity isn’t about a situation but it’s a life style. So let’s grow up together!

p.thad

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