Introduction

Good morning, Church family! It's a joy to be with you all this beautiful day, to delve into the Word of God and explore the extraordinary teachings of the Apostle Paul. Today, we will be focusing on Romans 12:9-21, a powerful passage that underscores the importance of genuine love, mutual respect, and being a blessing to others.

Before we dive in, I'd like us to ponder a quote by Max Lucado. He once said, "You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman." This is a powerful reminder that we have all been uniquely created and dearly loved by God.

Now, let's read the Scripture passage together from Romans 12:9-21:

Love One Another Genuinely

The Apostle Paul begins this passage with a profound yet simple command: "Love must be sincere." This is not a suggestion or a recommendation, but a command. The Greek word used here for love is "agape," which is the highest form of love, a selfless love that seeks the best for others. This is the love that God has for us and the love He commands us to have for one another. It is a love that is genuine, not hypocritical or self-serving.

What is genuine love?: It’s not merely about feelings or emotions. It’s not about saying the right words or doing the right things to appear loving. Genuine love is about the condition of our hearts. It is about truly caring for others, seeking their best interests, and being willing to sacrifice for their sake. It is about seeing others as God sees them, as His beloved children, created in His image, and treating them accordingly.

Not easy: It requires us to go against our natural inclinations to be selfish and self-centered. It requires us to put others before ourselves, to consider their needs and desires before our own. It requires us to forgive when we have been wronged, to show kindness when we have been treated harshly, and to extend grace when we have been judged unfairly.

The kind of love that God has shown us: He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins, so that we could have eternal life. He loves us unconditionally, even when we fail Him, even when we turn away from Him. His love for us is the model for our love for one another.

This love must be sincere: It must be genuine, not fake or superficial. It must come from a place of authenticity, not pretense. This means that we cannot just go through the motions of loving others. We cannot just do the right things or say the right words without truly caring for others. Our actions must match our hearts. Our words must reflect our true feelings.

A high standard, but not impossible: With God's help, we can love others genuinely. We can see others as He sees them. We can treat others as He treats us. We can love others as He loves us.

Can transform our relationships: It can bring healing and reconciliation. It can build bridges and break down walls. It can create a sense of community and belonging. It can make a difference in the world.

How do we cultivate this kind of love?: It starts with prayer. We need to ask God to fill our hearts with His love, to help us see others as He sees them, to give us the strength to love others genuinely. We need to spend time in His Word, learning about His love for us and how He wants us to love others. We need to practice this love in our daily lives, in our interactions with others, in our words and actions.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how you practice showing genuine love to people. Do you find it really difficult? How has God helped you?

Honor Others as Created in God's Image

In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, he instructs us to "Honor one another above yourselves ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO