Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12: 9-13

Have you ever encountered someone who wanted you to think they had your best interest in mind, but you had something deep inside that told you otherwise? Could it be that their love was something less than genuine?

Paul is addressing believers here in this segment of Romans 12. Our love for each other must be genuine. What does that look like? We should love each other as brothers. In some cases, we love our brothers or sisters no matter what. Why? Because we are family.

Paul says that we should show honor to each other. This thought goes back to the beginning of the chapter as we surrender to Christ and think of His sacrifice on our behalf. So shouldn’t we serve the Lord by serving others?

How? We rejoice. We are patient in a time of pain. We are to pray without ceasing. And on a practical point, we are to give and show hospitality.

It is a challenging list. Take one item today and put it into practice before you go to sleep tonight.