Message Title: God in Action
Message Text: Romans 12:9-16
Message Truth: love is desiring what is: (1) best for someone and (2) wanting to be united with them.
- God chose Israel to be a light to the nations, showing them what obedience to God would bring.
- Israel was to be a visible image of the invisible God to the nations.
- Israel was to display who Yahweh is to all the nations, so that all would come to know and worship the one true God. The Hebrew phrase for “image of God” is tzelem elohim. Tzelem is most likely from the root meaning “shadow”. The idea that Israel was to be a reflection of God’s character was unique for that time and culture. Israel was never supposed to make images of God, because God had already made images of himself.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
1.Love must be sincere
2.Hate what is evil
3.Cling to what is Good
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, “the good shepherd” who “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). His life and death are ultimate examples of what it means to put sincere, sacrificial love into action.
Jesus “gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:14, NLT).
Challenge: Will you cling to the good, hate what is evil and love sincerely?
