Romans 12.9-21
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to
what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in
showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to
the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse
them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony
with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim
to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought
for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all.
It is easy for a list like
this to sound trite to us, because it is so familiar, the kind of thing we
might find on an inspirational poster. In reality, though, Paul’s words are
extremely challenging, especially when we consider them against the background
of his life and eventual death. Blessing those who persecute you is easy when
you aren’t actually being persecuted, for example. In Paul’s context it
involved real pain and real death.
·
Read Paul’s words slowly. Which phrases do you find
most challenging?
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