Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with
brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9,10 ESV
These two verses really
hinge on the first sentence, “Let love be genuine”. Paul wants
his readers to know that love of the body of believers is to be
genuine. He wants them to realize that they should love the body that
they are a part of.
When you think of it this
passage is really pointing out what the marks of a true Christian
are; love for the brotherhood, love for what is good, disdain for
what is evil and honoring the body of Christ.
Paul uses the word “outdo”
when he refers to honoring other members of the body (church). Think
of the ramifications of this idea, outdoing one another in honoring
each other as valuable parts of the body. Would anyone feel
insignificant within the body? Or, would every member feel important
to the function of the body? I think it would be the latter.
What Paul is getting at is
that everyone matters, people matter. He wants every member to be
cognizant of every other member. He wants the body of believers to
function at its highest level.
Today let's turn our focus
to others within the church and honor them for the person they are
and what they bring to the whole. Help them to see that they truly
matter. Let our approach be genuine as we seek to build up the body.
© 2012 Leo J. Woodman
