By Mark Maher
We don’t love through our own strength, we love out of His strength. His love is our source enabling us to love with action, because “He remains in us.” (1 John 3:24) “Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14) because He is love. “God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12) Through His love, our capacity is filled to love. He is the source and the fuel.
Romans 12:9-18 demonstrates to us the heart of Christ. It’s a road map on how we are to love others, and it’s saturated with humility. No place in the text does it talk about our circumstances, our will, our adversity, or our challenges. We lay all that down at the cross. It’s not about us. It’s about Christ and others. You are a conduit to live out His purpose for your life. We don’t have to be full of knowledge or even have our act all together to put love into action. This faith walk is more about the heart. This is love in action. The outpouring of Christ. Grounded in humility. Kindness. All for the glory to God. We do it for Him and from Him. Living a personal ministry for Christ begins here.
“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. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:9-18)
These 15 statements by Paul in Romans 12 (9-18) demonstrate love in action.
1. Love must be sincere: (v9) The word sincere is translated from a Greek word meaning “without hypocrisy.” You have to be authentic and have to be a “servant for Christ” (1 Timothy 4:6) with the right heart. We are to be genuine, not counterfeit, but “rooted in Christ and in love.” (Ephesians 3:17)
2. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good: (v9) It’s a spiritual battle, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10) Gravitate strongly to what is good, recognizing what is evil when you see it. While in the presence of darkness, go towards the light.
3. Be devoted to one another in love: (v10) Love is the binding agent. It’s your fuel. “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10) Love is the answer and the filter to run all concerns and worries through. Love is Christ and Christ is love; you can’t go wrong if you act in love.
4. Honor one another above yourselves. (v10) Honor and respect is the way to show love in action. Humility is the core of our faith and the reflection of Christ. In our culture, we will push people down to go up, but Christ elevated others up.
5. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord: (v11) Wake up on fire for Christ. “Fanning the flames” (2 Timothy 1:7) each day, ready to give God your best. Keep strongly “connected to the vine” (John 15:2) to be as fruitful as possible for Christ. You are His conduit. Be full of fruit.
6. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer: (v12) The Message Bible translation of Romans 12:12 says: “Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.” Remain joyful in hope, trusting that God’s got us in His hand no matter the circumstances. We trust Him even in the darkest of times because He is “the light.” (John 14:18)
7. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need: (v13) Our faith is found in community. We are not meant to do it alone. Christ designed us to be love in action. You train your eyes to see the hurting, propelling you to respond. Walk alongside others with a listening ear, supportive, encouraging with a spirit of humility.
8. Practice hospitality: (v13) Hospitality is the place where we invite people into our home. We let them know they matter. It’s become a lost art. Hospitality was Jesus’s way. He went into their homes. When you invite, you let people know they matter. This has become a neglected ministry. Who could you invite to dinner this week?
9. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (v14) Love in action starts with our ability to love everyone. To not be easily offended for Christ. “Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].” (Proverbs 19:11) The light of Christ will shine brightly when you can show love for others in all circumstances. Our job is to share the heart of Christ to ALL.
10. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn: (v15) It’s a biblical mandate to rejoice when others rejoice and to mourn when others mourn means, we’re in it with you. I’m with you through the highs and I’m with you through the lows. Our love in action is modeling Christ. He’s with us in good times and He is with us in our adversity and challenges.
11. Live in harmony with one another: (v16) We are of the same mind with everyone we’re around. We have one goal to “bring them all to Christ.” Not some, ALL. And to do that we must have a strong love for everyone we encounter. The heart of Christ is to love others for who they are. Christ meets us where we are at each day, each moment.
12. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited: (v16) Humility is at the core of our faith, as Christ is our model. Reading the gospels, we see the reflection of Christ’s heart and His ways. The story of the woman at the well and the thief on the cross demonstrate the transformative love of Christ. He’ll never love you anymore than He does right now. Christ shows no judgment. It’s hard to accept, but you don’t have to earn it. Ephesians 2:8-9, states that salvation is “not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” This means that it’s not something we can earn, it’s a gift.
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:17-18) I’m highly motivated to live out my faith by my love of Christ, but I don’t have to earn it, I want to. That’s the Holy Spirit working. Sanctification is the Holy Spirit working in you, the equipping. This is not by your own might. This is the spirit within you. His agape love is unconditional, beyond our understanding. Embrace it, absorb it. It’s your fuel.
13. Do not repay anyone evil for evil: (v17) Christ himself was sent by God, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) This is the epitome of grace and love. This is our faith. “Romans 8:1 states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Christ did not believe in today’s cancel culture. You’re never canceled, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
14. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone: (v17) Doing what is right through the filter of Christ and love factors in how we treat people. How does our actions affect others? Are we empathetic? Do we respond with a heart to help others? Do we see others as children of God?
15. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone: (v18) As a reflection of Christ, we must treat others with gentleness and kindness with a high capacity for love. We are patient and full of inner peace as we share the good news of Christ. We allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, and this causes us to be very accepting and gracious with whomever we come across. They need to see Christ in us. Let them know that there’s something different about you.
