This is the REAL way “Love Wins”

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

    9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. -  Romans 12:1-13 (NKJV)
I was reflecting on Romans 12:3-13 today and it got me thinking about how many people we take for granted around us that allow our lives to go so smoothly. I’ll give you this, my smoothly may be much different than your definition, but we in America have it pretty easy compared to most around the world.

For now, we can worship freely without fear of violence. We are protected by the most advanced military in the world. Most of us live pretty close to hospitals, EMS, Fire and rescue (many of them volunteers). We have Police to protect us, people to come pick up our trash, water treatment plants that make sure we have clean running water and sewage treatment plants that make everything else “goes away”. Here is a biggie, we have food everywhere. I can drive 5 minutes and pass 20 places that serve food.

We can live our lives the way we do because of the love, caring, talent and hard work of people of the past and present. I have heard the term that “we stand of the shoulders of giants” that so many greats came before us. There are so many great people in this world that do so much for so many. We Christians owe so much to so many, so shouldn’t we live lives worthy of the sacrifice of so many?

        In verse 9 it says “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.”

We hate evil, we should serve and thank one another, love and lift each other up. We should not be self absorbed shut-ins spending our time trying to avoid contact with the “outside” world.

        Verse 2 tells us “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Let’s change our hard coded mind sets to think outside the box when it comes to helping others. Lets humbly and thankfully serve each other. Think of someone who makes your life easier day in and day out. They don’t do it for praise or thanks....but why not make their day and do something for them, not just a “thank you”, but a gesture that shows you care about what it is they do and who they are? In using our individual talents in helping and loving each other, we can lift each other up as one in the body of Christ.

This is the REAL way “Love Wins”.

        “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11


Thanks for checking in and God Bless>>John