7-17-25   THOUGHTS

I almost didn’t bold anything.  It is all worthy!  Verse 11 jumps out at me...  maybe you too?  
There is LOVE here.  It seems to want a powerful sincere love.  Verse 11 describes not only the degree of intensity of that love, but a diligence in behavior and a fervent spirit in us as we serve our Lord!  The REJOICING word is found several times. Our job is to bless, not to bring others down!  Haughtiness and arrogance are not to be a part of the child of God.  Verse 15 is a FELLOWSHIP comment.  It brings us back to “Let love be without hypocrisy.”

Rom 12:9-16    Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11  not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  12  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13  contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.  14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

A Prayer:
Father, may we present ourselves to You as living sacrifices.  Help us to absorb and practice what we have read today.  Give us more powerful lives that with fervent spirits and diligence, we may bring souls to the Kingdom.  Keep us humble, and chase away arrogance and self-centeredness.  Make we seek one another in joy and in sadness.  Increase our fellowship love.  You are an Awesome God, and we love You, we thank You and exalt Your great name.  May You Image in us, show Your image to our world.  In the name of Jesus,   Amen.