Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Romans 12:9-12 (NIV)
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
As you may know, I love a good list! I will even make a list of tasks I’ve completed… just so I can mark them off. It’s very satisfying. Today’s text from Romans contains a different kind of list. We read the first part of this chapter yesterday, where Paul reflects on how we are knit together in one body, all given special gifts, and skills. Here, Paul continues with encouragement for how we are to live together in this community of faith. It’s not a task list or even a set of benchmarks; there are no prizes for accomplishing all of these in a day. Yet, this list does give us encouragement and guidance as we walk in faith. Again, today I invite you to practice with me. Pick one item from this section and focus on it today. Will you be constant in prayer today? Maybe you’ll try to love your enemy. As I practice, I’ll be praying for you too!