Bible League: Living His Word Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul beseeches the members of the church at Rome to present their bodies as a "living sacrifice." A living sacrifice is a life lived in surrender to the will of Jesus Christ, rather than a life lived for its own sake. Most of the rest of the book of Romans gives us some idea of what it means to be a living sacrifice. Our verse for today, for example, gives us three items that should be part and parcel of the sacrificial life of a Christian. First, our sacrificial life should be a life of love without hypocrisy. Hypocritical love is love that is two-faced. On the one hand, there is the feigning to be what one is not – a false impression of love given to another person. On the other hand, however, there is the real motivation of the heart – a hatred and contempt for the other person. Paul's teaching is that our love should not be like that. It should be sincere, not fake. The sacrificial life of love surrenders its masks. Second, our sacrificial life should be a life that abhors evil. Perhaps this seems to some as an "It goes without saying" proposition. Of course the true Christian should abhor evil. However, we live in a world where that which is good is said to be evil and that which is evil is said to be good. It's not always easy to go against the spirit of the times and abhor evil. Our sacrificial life of love, therefore, must conform itself to the word of God and the mind of Christ so that we will have the courage of right conviction to help us obey Paul's command. Finally, our sacrificial life should be a life that clings to what is good. We must not just abhor evil; we must also cling to that which is good. Once we conform ourselves to the word of God and the mind of Christ and come to know the difference between evil and good, we should abhor the former and cling to the latter. The sacrificial life of love is not allowed to be half-hearted in these matters. The sacrificial life is, indeed, sacrificial. We don't get to do what we want, but what Jesus Christ the King wants. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 75, 76, 77 Psalm 75 -- We give thanks to you, God. We give thanks, for your Name is near. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 76 -- In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 77 -- My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 6 Romans 6 -- The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Though his ministry follows mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”Insight John the Baptist said he was not even worthy to be Christ's slave, to perform the humble task of unfastening his shoes. But according to Luke 7:28, Jesus said that John was the greatest of all prophets. If such a great person felt inadequate even to be Christ's slave, how much more should we lay aside our pride to serve Christ! Challenge When we truly understand who Christ is, our pride and self-importance melt away. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Numbers 32:6 Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?Kindred has its obligations. The Reubenites and Gadites would have been unbrotherly if they had claimed the land which had been conquered, and had left the rest of the people to fight for their portions alone. We have received much by means of the efforts and sufferings of the saints in years gone by, and if we do not make some return to the church of Christ by giving her our best energies, we are unworthy to be enrolled in her ranks. Others are combating the errors of the age manfully, or excavating perishing ones from amid the ruins of the fall, and if we fold our hands in idleness we had need be warned, lest the curse of Meroz fall upon us. The Master of the vineyard saith, "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" What is the idler's excuse? Personal service of Jesus becomes all the more the duty of all because it is cheerfully and abundantly rendered by some. The toils of devoted missionaries and fervent ministers shame us if we sit still in indolence. Shrinking from trial is the temptation of those who are at ease in Zion: they would fain escape the cross and yet wear the crown; to them the question for this evening's meditation is very applicable. If the most precious are tried in the fire, are we to escape the crucible? If the diamond must be vexed upon the wheel, are we to be made perfect without suffering? Who hath commanded the wind to cease from blowing because our bark is on the deep? Why and wherefore should we be treated better than our Lord? The firstborn felt the rod, and why not the younger brethren? It is a cowardly pride which would choose a downy pillow and a silken couch for a soldier of the cross. Wiser far is he who, being first resigned to the divine will, groweth by the energy of grace to be pleased with it, and so learns to gather lilies at the cross foot, and, like Samson, to find honey in the lion. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 26:42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done."Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Matthew 26:39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Psalm 131:2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. Romans 8:26,27 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; • and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able." Psalm 106:15 So He gave them their request, But sent a wasting disease among them. 1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 1 Corinthians 7:32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; Isaiah 26:3 "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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