Sunday Soaking: Be Devoted

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.
Romans 12:9-10

Paul talks about brotherly love in this passage. That’s good. We can embrace that. (Might adapt it for ourselves to say, “sisterly love,” as well.) We’ve released that kind of friendship-love. It feels good. It blesses others and also blesses us: It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). 

But this passage also includes a sticky caveat: be devoted. 

As I wrote this verse out during my Bible study, this sentence was in proverbial neon lights:  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Suddenly Paul’s imperative—be devoted—is sounding less like a random act of kindness and more like an ongoing commitment.  

Does God really expect me to be “my sister’s keeper” on a perpetual basis? 

Maybe.

Possibly.

Clearly. 

Laura: This may take a lot of time.

And then I imagine Jesus responding with a great line often used by my friend Kathy’s husband, Kerry: “And your point?”  

I’m shamed and humbled as I realize I don’t mind serving when it’s a one-and-done with no ongoing commitment. I don’t mind releasing love when it’s convenient to my schedule and doesn’t interrupt my life. I might even have unconsciously (or consciously) thought, If I spend all this time loving on this “one another” in my life, when will I have time to take care of me? 

Ahhh…now we get to the crux of it, Laura. God has an answer for that, too.  In fact, it’s almost like He is listening in on my thought life, because He prompted Paul’s very next words:

Honor one another above yourselves.

Completing my be devoted assignment might mean missing my favorite TV show to support a hurting friend. It might mean carving out some time for serious prayer for the “one another” who needs help. It might mean my closet doesn’t get organized, my boxes don’t get unpacked, or my bathroom doesn’t get painted because I’m running out to pick up her grocery order, take her to lunch, or drive her to the doctor.  

Be devoted can be messy, complicated, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. There will not always be a warm, fuzzy “thank you” at the end. There will not always be appreciation and acknowledgment of the sacrifice. I may not get to see fruit from my labor.

But is it not enough that I hear and obey my Lord? 

How about a little self-assessment? On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you place yourself on the ‘Be devoted’ continuum: Where would you place these love-one-another actions on the Be devoted line?

• While loading the dishwater today, I rinsed a mug she had given me and because it brought her to mind, I prayed, “Lord, bless her today and meet her needs.” 
• I dropped to my knees and prayed for 30 minutes for this hurting woman, asking God to provide for her needs and call her to Himself.  
• I mailed her a card with a scripture verse from my quiet time that seemed perfect for what she is going through. 
• I sent a text saying, “I love you and I’m praying for you today.” 
• I babysat my friend’s children so she and her hubby could have a date night.  
• I grabbed my keys and drove to the city office where I paid my friend’s utility bill. 
• I drove to the local café and picked up two coffees before heading to her house to talk and pray together.  

The words of Scripture are often beautiful—even downright poetic—in our ears. Many are familiar because we memorized them as children. Some are woven into the lyrics of tunes we love to sing along with; we raise our hands in church and sing them loudly, sometimes even with tears in our eyes.  

And yet, it’s as if we don’t really know them, because we don’t own the truth we say we believe. 

Are you ready to really own the truth you read? Are you ready to say it, sing it, write it, memorize, it, and then LIVE IT?  

It’s time for us woman up and get down to business … to allow God to get into our business.  

Two millennia (and lot of culture, history, and geography) may separate us from the time Paul penned the words of Romans 12, but the Holy-Spirit-inspired truth is timeless and unchanging: 

• Hate what is evil. 
• Cling to what is good.  
• Be devoted to one another in love. 
• Honor one another above yourselves.  

A passage with not one but two, “one anothers.” Might mean we need to pay extra attention.  

Sure hope God is calling you out with this one, as He is me! What does be devoted look like in your life?

This week we welcomed Jennifer Estes, from Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, as the guest lecturer at our women’s Bible study. Jennifer spoke on I Corinthians 12, where Paul addresses spiritual gifts and their vital importance to the body of Christ. We invite you to watch and learn as Jennifer shares her insights on this powerful passage:

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