How Then Shall We Live?
Read: Romans 12:9-11
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Questions for Reflection
In Romans 12:9-11, Paul continues to move from the theology of the earlier chapters into the biography of how a believer actually lives. These verses are a rapid-fire series of commands: sincerity, hatred of evil, brotherly affection, and spiritual fervor.
Having read these commands, take some time to personally reflect on the following questions.
- In my social circles, do I ever substitute polite harmony for genuine love?
- If I truly abhorred the evil I see in my own habits as much as I abhor the evil I see in the news, how would my daily routine change this week?
- When my zeal feels low, am I trying to manufacture excitement (the flame), or am I neglecting the spiritual disciplines that provide the fuel?
- How can I distinguish between burnout from overworking and the slothfulness in zeal that Paul warns against?
