The Kind of Church We Would All Like To Be A Part Of

REFERENCE: Romans 12:9-10, 13-19 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. . . . 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.

Observation: This passage demonstrates what relationships ought to look like among us Christians. Therefore, it shows us what the church ought to look like (but, unfortunately, seldom does). What would a church look like that was really doing this stuff?

1.    We would really love each other.  In other words, we would be excited to serve and show care for each other. We would do everything possible to live in peace and harmony with each other.

2.    We would honor - prefer each other. We would want others to get recognition instead of us.

3.    We would eagerly welcome each other (and new people) into our hearts and homes.

4.    If someone were to treat us badly, we would pray for them, bless them and do good to them. We would refuse to gossip about them or try to pay them back for what they had done.

5.    We would be empathetic and truly enter into each other’s emotional worlds.

6.    We would not tolerate the distinctions of class or wealth of this world effect, in any way, how we relate to each other.

7.    We would forgive others faults quickly.

It seems that we, as a church, have a ways to go. Thank God for His grace to change us and work in spite of us.

Application/Confession: My hardest challenge is to really let go of what others have done to those I love. I need to give it up, forgive and leave revenge to the Lord.

PRAYER: Lord, help me be an example of doing all that Your Word says in this passage. I want to forgive. I want to give revenge over to You. I ask You to heal my heart and allow me to let go of the pain of the offense. I do release them to Your judgment and not mine.