Good Advice!

Romans 12:9-16

Marks of the True Christian

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. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Ro 12:9–16.

I remember when I was 18 years old and was about to graduate high school. I was flooded with so many graduation cards that were each filled with their own set of congratulations and also bits and pieces of advice or wisdom for the future.

It is funny, but a lot of those pieces of advice, wisdom, and guidance, didn’t really and truly make sense until in the heat of the moment. For example, until you got that first F back on a test that you didn’t study for did you realize what your parents and so many others meant when they said, “Study Hard!” Until you were met face to face with alcohol, sex, drugs, porn, and the facet of other sinful things, did you realize what those cards meant when they said, “Make good choices!”

Even as adults, who are removed from the college scene and the pressures that exist there, our lives are still filled with choices and decisions everyday. What’s the right thing to do? Well in our text for this morning, Paul, here in the book of Romans, gives us some good advice to follow that may make our walk towards Jesus a little easier or complicated, depending upon how you look at it. So, this morning, my goal is for each and everyone of us here today, to learn something. May we all be teachable vessels this morning and walk away with one piece of wisdom that we can apply to our lives. And with that being said, May God bless the preaching of this, His Most Holy Word.

Beginning in Romans chapter 12, verse 9, we read, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” So right off the bat, in this first verse, we are given three pieces of advice, wisdom, or instruction. So let’s break them down.

First, Paul says, “Let love be genuine.” The NKJV puts it, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” I feel that the majority of Shiloh seems to do this well. It is to love without getting something in return or without a hidden agenda. I’m only going to love you and treat you well as long as you do as I want you to and give me what I want. That’s not true love. That’s not genuine. So what does this word, “hypocrisy” even mean? Well according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, hypocrisy means, “behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel.” WOW! Okay. Now it’s starting to make sense. So when Paul says to love without hypocrisy, he is in essence saying, not to act one way in one setting and act another way in a different setting. Don’t claim to be a Christian yet act like the world. Be genuine. Love without hypocrisy. As the New Living Translation of the Bible puts it, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” It’s a type of love that gets dirty. A type of love that loves beyond appearance, convenience, or pleasure. Let love be genuine. There is enough fake stuff in this world already, so therefore, let’s seek to be genuine in our love.

Secondly, Paul says to “abhor what is evil.” Or as the New Living Translation puts it, “Hate what is wrong.” In the Greek, this word brings forth a whole new meaning. In the Greek, this word for abhor or hate is the word, “apostygeō (a-pos-too-gay-o).” It means to dislike, abhor, or have a horror of. And what is interesting is that this is the only place in the Bible where you will find this word. Paul commands us as Christians, as followers of Christ to abhor, to hate, to be in horror of what is evil or wrong. But let me ask you, “Do you see many Christians doing this in the world today? Do you see Christians standing up for what is right and true and hating that which is wrong?” Or do you find that Christians today have lost their zeal and just seek to kind of go along with the flow and not stir the pot? We don’t want to upset or offend someone else’s belief or point of view so we just sit quietly, all meek and mild. Does that pretty much sum it up?

Yes, brothers and sisters, there is a time to be meek and mild but not when it comes to sin. Christ made sin as black and white as could be. We are the ones who have invented the grey area and made it complicated. We cannot be lukewarm when it comes to sin. We are called to hate sin, to be in horror of it. Not accept it. Not parade it. Not ignore it. We are called to hate it! Yes this world accepts and approves of sin more and more everyday, but that is not what we, as Christians, are called to do. As Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, may we as Christians, as the body of Christ, stand up for what is right and true and abhor that which is sinful. Even if we stand alone. Even then we are never alone, because Jesus is always with us. I could keep going, but we need to move on. Let us abhor what is sinful.

Lastly, within this verse, Paul writes, “ hold fast to what is good.” Some of your translations may say, “Cling to what is good.” This Greek word for cling or hold fast is interesting. It is the word, “kol-lah'-o”(co-la-o) and means to glue, to glue together, cement, or fasten together. As far away as we are to be from sin, that much closer are we to be to what is good. We are to glue ourselves, cement ourselves to what is good. If we claim to be Christians then our lives should be marked by goodness. We should not come into the church, acting all high and holy, and then after service is over go out into the parking lot and cuss someone out or berate someone for something they have done wrong or any other sinful behavior. Love and goodness should mark our entire lives at all times, 24/7. How are you doing at clinging to what is good? David Guzik writes, “ In some ways, it is often easier for us to either abhor what is evil or cling to what is good rather than doing both. However, the godly person knows how to practice both. May we learn from our Master and seek to do better at practicing both. Let us seek to hold fast to what is good.

Now, we are finally through verse 9. That was a lot. Yet Paul’s commands to the church continue. We read in verse 10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” David Guzik writes, “This is a command, that Christians should not have a cold, stand-offish attitude, yet should be genuine in their displays of affection.” One of the things that warms my heart more than anything is the love that I see here at Shiloh on Sunday mornings before service. I truly feel that it is an example of this verse. David Guzik ends his commentary on this verse by saying, “We should see in this, as much as anything, as a call to simple good manners among Christians.” May we be about the business of loving others as Christ has loved us. And may we teach our young children, teenagers, and and youth how to love well as well.

Have any of you ever seen the movie Zootopia? In the movie you find a city of animals. Well the two main characters end up at the DMV which, to the surprise of the rabbit, is run by nothing but sloths. As if the DMV is not slow enough, this particular DMV is run by nothing but sloths who move at the pace of a snail. LOL! Well in our next set of verses, verses 11-13, Paul writes, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Contrary to popular belief, being a Christian is not to be a painful, forceful, demanding day in and day out task of service as many display on a daily basis. Instead, as Paul puts it, we are to serve the Lord, all the while being fervent in spirit and full of zeal. it should be a joyful, happy, and fulfilling experience to serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. All the while remembering what He has done for us.

In verse 12 Paul says, once again, “12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” What an anthem. In times of tribulation, heart-ache, or despair, what a wonderful verse to quote to yourself. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” What a great mantra. Paul, who had endured so much for the sake of the gospel, to proclaim something like this is powerful. Rejoice in hope. No matter how doom and gloom your situation or plight may seem to be, we as Christians are called to joy and hope. Second, Paul says, “be patient in tribulation.” I remember when I used to give my testimony at churches I would say something to the affect that while we are in troubles in this life, our main goal is how to get out of them, while in God’s view, He is using our struggles to shape and form us into the man or woman He wants us to be. God has shown me through my struggles how He has used them to make me a person who walks closer with the Lord. Therefore, may I encourage you today, whatever storm, battle or chaos you may be walking through, be patient. Allow the Lord to do His work and trust in His timing. Lean on Him. Lastly, Paul tells us to “be constant in prayer.” If there is any key to getting through this life, this is it. Be constant in prayer. May the communication lines between us and our Heavenly Father always be open. Talk to God about anything and everything that is going on in your life. But always be willing to listen for what He is saying to you as well.

In verse 13, Paul kind of changes his mode of instruction a bit. He goes from self help to other help. He writes, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” David Guzik writes, “Our care and concern will demonstrate itself in practical deeds done for others, either going to them (distributing to the needs of the saints) or inviting them to come to us (given to hospitality). The ancient Greek word for hospitality is literally translated “love for strangers.” In addition, “given” is a strong word, sometimes translated “persecute” (as in Romans 12:14). The idea is to “pursue” people you don’t know with hospitality. This is love in action, not just feelings. Easy to say, hard to do. Yet this is our calling as Christians. Think about what Christ did for us. Leaving the glories, the splendor and the majesty of heaven. Don’t you think that if Christ did that for us, then we can seek to love our neighbors better and even the strangers in our lives. I think we can. If we see someone in need, especially one of our own, may we be so bold to help them.

As if what Paul has had to say hasn’t been difficult enough already, he cranks it up a notch here. Beginning with verse 14, it reads, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Warren Weirsbe expounds upon this. He writes, “Paul reminded them that they must enter into the feelings of others. Christian fellowship is much more than a pat on the back and a handshake. It means sharing the burdens and the blessings of others so that we all grow together and glorify the Lord. If Christians cannot get along with one another, how can they ever face their enemies? Let me read that again, “If Christians cannot get along with one another, how can they ever face their enemies?” A humble attitude and a willingness to share are the marks of a Christian who truly ministers to the body. Our Lord ministered to the common people, and they heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37). When a local church decides it wants only a certain “high class” of people, it departs from the Christian ideal for ministry.” May we seek to love as Christ loves us.

Have you ever truly been persecuted? We may have had those who have treated us wrongly. Those who maybe we didn’t see eye to eye with. From the lesser end of persecution all the way to what Paul received, he tells us that we are to bless those that persecute us and in addition, we are not to curse them. As Jesus hung upon the cross, having been spat upon, beaten, whipped, had a crown of thorns beat upon His head, and forced to carry His own cross, He looks down from the cross and says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If Jesus can do that after all He endured, then I think through the power of Christ, and His Holy Spirit, we can forgive those who have persecuted us. Don’t you think? And in addition, not wish ill upon them. There is something about when someone treats you ugly or wrongs you that you want to treat them the same way. Yet that is not what we as Christians are called to do. For Paul writes, “do not curse them.” It is only in and through the strength of Christ and His Holy Spirit, that I feel that we as humans can fulfill this command.

Continuing on to verse 15, Paul once again writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” As Christians, we are called to empathize. If you are fighting a battle in life, yet another fellow Christian is rejoicing over a victory, then we are called to rejoice with them. We are called to put aside our selfish desires and rejoice. Yet on the other hand, if we are rejoicing over a victory in our own lives and a fellow believer is is weeping, then once again, we are to put aside our selfish tendencies and weep with our fellow brother or sister. May we remember that we are not here for ourselves, but to serve the One who gave His all for us. Amen! So much of what Paul is saying to us here boils down to empathy and a lack of selfishness. Something that I don’t feel we are very good at, even as Christians in the world today. Look, I’ve been to Christian concerts and events that when the event is over and everyone is trying to get out of the parking lot, people are flipping each other off, cutting one other off, blowing horns and demanding their own way. What happened? Aren’t we called to be the same Christ-like, Christ-loving individuals everywhere we go? Just saying.

Our final verse for this morning, verse 16 concludes by saying, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” How our world needs to hear this more. In a world filled with me, me, me, me, me, we need to be reminded from time to time that its not all about us. Therefore may we seek to follow the commands found here. David Guzik writes, “in associating with the humble, we simply imitate Jesus. And by not being wise in your own opinion reminds us of how far we still have to go in actually being like Jesus. We don’t know it all and never will until we reach eternity. So may we seek to humble and teachable.

Wow! We have talked about a good bit this morning haven’t we? Paul has given us quite a bit to do. However, as I have always heard it put, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. We aren’t expected to accomplish all of this over night, but day by day, may we seek to be less like this world and more like Jesus. Take one of these commands a day and seek to live it out in the world. See how the world reacts and see how you feel. Living like Jesus isn’t easy, but it’s what we have been called to do. May we seek to be the Christians who stand out in the world and not seek to blend in. Good advice to follow. Don’t you think? In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!