Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV)

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 honor. 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. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Reflect

If only we all lived by these instructions, what a wonderful world it would be! Some people are easier to love than are others. There are those whom, no matter how hard you try, you find yourself talking to God for hours about them. At times maybe you even blame God, like Adam did, saying “this woman that you gave me.” Maybe for us it sounds like, “this boss that you gave me,” “this child that you gave me,” “this spouse that you gave me,” etc.

Let your love be genuine. My love be genuine? My love is genuine, but surely that doesn’t mean I also have to like all people? Hate what is evil. Yes, I do hate what is evil. Did you see what he did? Did you know she cut my hours back? Did you see how he wrecked the car last night? (He’s fine, but now I have to get the car fixed!)

The challenge is on! God didn’t promise us that it would be easy, only that God would be with us and help us. Hold fast to what is good, love one another with mutual affection, and outdo one another in showing honor. Go for it!

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Pray

Dear God, we want to love like you do, and yet, we just don’t see others like you do. We need your help every hour of every day to love as you do so that others will see you in us. Help us to live so that our lives point toward you! Amen.

Go with God.