Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us a third aspect of a lifestyle of worship that followers of Jesus should practice in their lives. And that aspect is that followers of Jesus are to practice a lifestyle of worship that pleases God through our response toward other Christians. In Romans 12:9-16, we see Paul provide a string of commands that, when followed, result in a lifestyle of worship that pleases God and reflects Christ to other followers of Jesus. When Paul uses the phrase “let love be without hypocrisy” he is revealing for us the reality that our love for one another should be genuine and sincere. Paul then commands that followers of Jesus are to have a vehement dislike for that which is morally and socially worthless. Instead, we are to attach ourselves to the things that meet a high standard of worth and merit.
In addition, as followers of Jesus, we are to have a brotherly affection for fellow Christians. While brothers and sisters sometimes do not always get along, at the end of the day there is a connection and affection for one another. That same love and affection should mark the lives of followers of Jesus when it comes to our spiritual brothers and sister. Paul also commands followers of Jesus to try to outdo one another when it comes to showing respect and reverence for one another. We are to have an attitude that consistently puts others before ourselves. In verse 11, Paul reminds the members of the church at Rome that they are not to be lagging behind in diligence. In other words, as followers of Jesus, we are not to be reluctant or lazy when it comes to our commitment to Christ. Instead, as followers of Jesus, we are to be enthusiastic and excited when it comes to our commitment to Christ as we live a life that is surrendered to serving the Lord.
As followers of Jesus, Paul states that, in spite of the troubles, trials, and opposition that we may face as we live our day to day lives here on earth, our lives should be marked by a state of well being and happiness that maintains a confident trust in Christ and that lives a life that reveals and reflects Christ as we look forward with a confident expectation to the future. Paul then explains that a lifestyle of worship that pleases God and reflects Christ to other followers of Jesus persists in prayer and participates in meeting the physical and spiritual needs other followers of Jesus. In verse 13, the phrase practicing hospitality literally means to harass someone with hospitality.
But, as followers of Jesus, Paul explains that are not only to live a lifestyle of worship that pleases God and reflects Christ to other followers of Jesus whom we like: a lifestyle of worship that pleases God also asks that God’s gracious favor and power would be on followers of Jesus who are not nice to you but instead harass you. We are to bless followers of Jesus who persecute us as followers of Jesus. We are not to curse followers of Jesus who are difficult to deal with. Instead we are to ask that God’s transformational power and favor would be at work in their lives.
As followers of Jesus we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep: we are called to connect and live life with one another in community during the highest of highs and during the lowest of lows. And we are to live in community with one another that is marked by harmony and agreement, not division and dissension. We are to be a community of believers that does not simply seek to strive for prestige and prominence. Instead we are to associate and accommodate our lives in a way that every follower of Jesus, regardless of social or economic status, feels connected in community.
Paul then concludes his list of commands by calling the members of the Church of Rome to not rely on their own wisdom when it comes to living a lifestyle of worship that pleases God and reflects Christ to other followers of Jesus. Instead, we are to rely on the Holy Spirit’s transformational power that will change our thinking to align with God’s desires for our lives.
So are we practicing a lifestyle of worship that pleases God in how we treat other followers of Jesus in community? Are we practicing a lifestyle that reflects genuine and sincere love for one another? A lifestyle that is marked by a confident trust in Christ and that lives a life that reveals and reflects Christ as we look forward with a confident expectation to the future, in spite of the troubles, trials, and opposition that we may face? A lifestyle of worship that persists in prayer and participates in meeting the physical and spiritual needs other followers of Jesus? A lifestyle asks that God’s gracious favor and power would be on followers of Jesus who are not nice to you but instead harass you? A lifestyle that expresses love and support during the highest of highs and the lowest of lows; a community marked by harmony and agreement?
Tomorrow, we will see Paul conclude this section of his letter by revealing a fourth aspect of a lifestyle of worship that followers of Jesus should practice in their lives...
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