Daily devotional · September 19
Love in Ordinary Clothes
“Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.”
After eleven chapters of doctrine, Paul turns practical, and his list of what love looks like is wonderfully specific. Be devoted to one another in brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, contribute to the needs of the saints, and seek to show hospitality. Then, in Romans 12:15, comes a line that cuts through our busyness: celebrate with the celebrating and grieve with the grieving. Real love is emotionally present. It does not fix everything or rush to advice; it shows up and shares the moment. Notice also the call to live in harmony and not to be haughty, but to associate with the lowly. Today, think of someone who is celebrating and someone who is hurting. Send one message of joy and one of comfort. Keep it simple, personal and free of any agenda.
Also read
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15
Prayer
Lord, make my love real and specific. Help me celebrate and grieve with the people you place near me.