Devoted to diligent, fervent, brotherly love.

Romans 12:10-11 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; In verses 9-13 Paul urged the Roman believers to offer a living, holy, sacrifice of worship in the way they love one another. We read in Romans 12:9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” In today’s verses 10-11 he continued encouraging them by unpacking what living to love with Jesus looks like. Being devoted to one another in brotherly love simply is showing family affection. Twice in this exhortation a form of phileo is used, which conveys a friendly, family relationships. What does that look like? It’s valuing others above yourself, which is what the word honor intimates. Paul used the same word in Romans 9:21 “Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?” They were not to be slacking in their exercising love for one another. They were to be diligent, fervently loving with the understanding that as they loved one another, they were serving the Lord. Remember what Paul had written in vs. 1 of this chapter? “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” In Paul’s mind, believer’s loving one another is how they love and serve Jesus. It’s another aspect of living to love with Jesus. When we intentionally, diligently, fervently prefer others’ interests over our own personal interests, we are expressing the love of Jesus in and to His body, His bride. Paul put it this way when he wrote to the Philippians. Philippians 2:3-5 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Peter wrote the same in 1 Peter 1:22. “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.” We need this live to love scripture encouragement everyday! God probably is going to put Jesus’ brothers and sisters in our paths today. We may have many opportunities to offer living, holy sacrifices of love and service to Jesus. It’s our reasonable act of worship since we live and breathe by the riches of the mercies of God. Let us devote ourselves to diligently, fervently living to love our brothers and sisters with Jesus for His glory and joy. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com