Fellowship: Devotion & Honour!
| Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (Romans12:9-11 ) |
Romans 12:9-10 speaks clearly of love which is most probably Christian love (agape love) given that he is addressing the Church in Rome. The instructions he gives are to co-exist peacefully in the church and society. He addresses the lack of genuine, sincere and open hearted love as a concern. He calls on Christians to develop agape love. He draws their attention to hate evil and love what is good. He wants them to know that love from a clean and open heart, devoid of emotions leads humanity to agape love and the true love of God. Once you have tasted true love from God can you better narrate the experience of loving God and one another.
Vs 10 reads "Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves." Loving one another was expected to be brotherly without conditions as love within the family of God. In the Jewish context honour was matched with shame. Honour is the value of a person in his/her own eyes plus that person's value in the eyes of his own social group. Honour therefore is what you claim to be of worth in your own eyes and those of others. Honour was ascribed to a person following his wealth, family of birth, behaviour and trust acquired.
APPLICATION
True Love whether that of God or agape is something difficult to find nowadays. People behave so differently and strangely that it is hard to trust. But anyone whether male or female that has demonstrated true love attracts respect and honour from whoever knows him or her. When they speak anywhere they draw attention because crowds want to listen to true love that is modeled.
Only true hearts renewed by the Holy Spirit sincerely demonstrate agape love and the love of God. Love of neighbour and God gives honour to God and attracts honour and love to us in return. Do not love with pretence or for wealth acquisition, else we miss the point of believing in a loving God. I exhort us to truly love God.
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The Rev Roger Tem is my name. I am minister without Charge and currently interim moderator of Mabopane Presbyterian Church. Am a PhD fellow in New Testament Studies and related literature with the university of Pretoria. Am married to Achemkeze Sei Tem with two kids; a boy and a girl. God bless you all
