Good Morning Friends,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly 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 God’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
everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I
will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap
burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.” (Romans 12:9-21)
This section of Romans contains a whole list
of practical instructions for living our lives in ways that please God. As I
was looking them over I was struck by the fact that none of them have anything to
do with what we accomplish. Pleasing God doesn’t seem to be about how good we preach,
how well we sing, how much money we make, how many useful things we invent and how
many patents we receive, what titles we are given, what degrees we earn, or any
other measure of accomplishment that might be used in this world.
Rather, the measure of a life that pleases
God seems to be much more about how we relate to God, how we relate to other
people, and about our attitude in facing what life brings us.
In our relationship with God, a life pleasing
to Him is marked by a fervor for Him and a willingness to serve Him.
In our relationship with other people, a life
pleasing to God is marked by love, honor, sharing, hospitality, compassion,
harmony, peace, and even treating well those who treat you badly.
And the attitudes of a life that pleases God
include: joy, patience, faithfulness, and humility.
As you look at your own life, consider the
measures of a life that is pleasing to God – not the measures of a life that is
successful by the standards of the world.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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