Everyday...Share the Love God Gives to Others!

Romans 12:9-21 New International Version (NIV)

Love in Action

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. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c] 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Saturday, September 5 - Romans 12:9-21

The Gospel (which means “Good News”) is that we cannot earn God’s love. We are

righteous in God’s eyes because of what Jesus has done. We receive this Good

News as if watching news on TV: passively. Faith is trusting that Good News or not.

Faith in that Good News sets us free from fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, and death. But

since God’s mercy is free people often ask, “What do I do now?” Well… freely love!

The Apostle Paul says that since you do not need to make a sacrifice to God then

you are free to be a “living sacrifice” to and for others. Luther summed up Paul’s

thinking this way: “ God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does.”

This is not touchy, feely, sentimental love that Paul describes. It is the day in, day

out, hard, normal, sacrificial love that takes place in our everyday relationships in

everyday life. This is where we get the idea of “sacrificial love.” God loves you. Now

love others