Sincere
Love
* Paul continues his instructions to believers. Read
Romans 12:9-16. 1.
It may seem strange to see the command to love immediately next to the command
to hate (12:9-10). How are these commands related? 2.
Based on this passage, in what ways is Christian love expressed? (see 12:10, 13)
Good
Will
* Paul writes, "Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse" (12:14, NIV).
†
Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
(Matthew 5:44).
† He also said, "Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28, NIV).
3.
In what ways should we pray for those who mistreat us?
Sharing
Feelings
* "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn (weep)
with those who mourn (weep)" (12:14, NIV).
* Using the analogy of
the human body for the church (12:4-8), Paul writes elsewhere, "its parts
should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers
with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (1 Corinthians
12:25b-26, NIV).
†
When you hear about the success or accomplishment of a classmate, coworker, colleague,
etc., do you feel joy, or do you feel envy or bitterness? Do you truly share in
their joy, or do you get stuck thinking about how you compare with them? Thinking
Properly
* Paul writes, "Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not
be conceited (i.e., think too highly of yourself)" (12:16).
†
Think of the "lowly" people that you encounter. Do you look down on
them? In what specific ways can you begin to show love to these "people of
low position?"
Reflection/Application †
Everyone wants to be loved. We also need to love others. Is your love for others
"sincere?" Is it difficult to love others? The Bible says, "God
is love" and "love comes from God" (1 John 4:7-8). God gives his
children the desire and capacity to love. "We love because he first loved
us" (4:19). Have you experienced the love of God through faith in Jesus Christ?
† As a
Christian, in what specific ways are you expressing your love for others? What
is the evidence that you are "devoted" to your brothers and sisters
in Christ? (12:10) Commit to "brotherly love" and ask God to show you
how you can express your love for others.
Responding
to Attacks
* How does "Christian love" respond
to personal "attacks?" Read Romans 12:17-21. 4.
Verse 18 says, "…live at peace with everyone." Does this necessarily
mean we should be completely passive and "tolerant?" Is living at peace
with everyone a reasonable expectation for the Christian? Explain. 5.
What types of acts provoke us to seek revenge? Why do we get angry? Why is it
difficult to "bless those who persecute us" and "love our enemies"?
6. Verse
19 says, "Do not take revenge." What steps can we take to avoid thoughts
and actions of revenge?
*
Read 12:21. Evil can overcome us when we allow the wrong attitudes
and actions of others to cause us to respond in a wrong way. If we repay evil
for evil, then evil has overcome us.
* Can evil really be "overcome"
with good? (12:21b) Yes! That is what Jesus did! As he said, "I have overcome
the world" (John 16:33c). As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to
bless those who persecute us, love our enemies, and overcome evil with good.
Reflection
†
Think about your "enemies." They might be in the school, workplace,
neighborhood, church or family. Think about how you respond to others' anger,
negative words and actions toward you. Think of one of your "enemies"
right now. Commit to pray for, and bless that person. And remember, the capacity
to love enemies is found in Christ.
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