HoHum:
It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, Cyrus asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "Half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me."
WBTU:
Over the past several years I have been going over parts of Romans. Chapters 1 through 11, Paul outlines the gospel way of salvation. Chapters 1 through 8 he talks exclusively of this. Chapters 9 through 11 he corrects some misunderstandings of gospel way that come about because of the Jews hardness of heart against the way of grace. The way of the gospel is open to all not just to Jews but to all of mankind. All need the cross for salvation. Overall chapters 1 through 11 are doctrine. Chapters 12 through 16 of Romans are practical. Considering all of this doctrine, teaching of the way of grace, how shall we then live? Paul does this in many of his letters. First section is doctrine and the last section is practical. Starting a series on Romans 12-16 today.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship... Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1, 2, NIV. What is God’s will for us? Following vs. talk about this.
Starting in the middle of ch. 12. Saving some things for Father’s Day next week.
This middle section of one line moral teachings can be organized around this phrase from vs. 10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”
Devotion is something that is lacking in our day. Devotion is to give up one’s all to a cause, for the benefit, or advancement of something regarded as deserving support.
Many families are falling apart whether it be the biblical family or the church family. The necessary ingredient to stop all of this is devotion. “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39, NIV. Devotion to God and then devotion to others.
Many times what happens to the family is that it is sacrificed in our world to other devotions, other pursuits. Our lives are devoted to several things, like our job, community organizations, our hobbies, but we should never sacrifice our family for these devotions. Our number one devotion should be to God, and our number two devotion should be to our family. Many sacrifice their family and their relationship with God for earthly pursuits and dreams.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love- We are brothers and sisters here. We are family. Many times emphasize immediate family and that is fine but what about the church family. Why use such terms if it is not true? We are told to develop close and affectionate relationships that should exist among brothers and sisters. We should be hopelessly devoted to each other. We should look at Pleasant Ridge like our immediate family and the church worldwide as our extended family.
Thesis: Let’s expand upon this theme of devotion by looking at the other commands in Romans 12:9- 16
For instances:
Sincere love for one another
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9, NIV.
Love must be sincere. Love without hypocrisy. Many people are fake with their love. To our faces, they are kind and affectionate, but behind our backs they are anything but. We should not be like Judas who betrayed his Lord with a kiss. This is a sign of affection, a sign of love. However, Judas’ heart was full of anything but love.
We need to love those who are devoted to the same cause as we are. We need to love those who have taken the way of grace, fellow pilgrims. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV.
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,” Acts 2:46, NIV.
Hate what is evil- “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6; cling to what is good. We are blind many times to the good in others. We often only see the bad things. A speaker held up a blank sheet of paper and asked, “What do you see?” “A piece of paper,” the people said. He then placed the paper on the podium, made a dot in the center and held it up again, “What do you see now?” “A dot,” was the reply. “Imagine this blank paper is a person,” the speaker said. “The small dot you saw is his or her biggest fault. The white surrounding the dot represents all of this person’s good qualities which we so easily fail to see. Often a fault seems bigger than it really is and we allow it to overshadow the many positive aspects of a person.”
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15, NIV.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22, NIV.
How can we love without emotion? Celebrate the good things, shed tears and show empathy for those who are mourning. #75 The Family of God- You will notice we say “brother and sister” round here- It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near; When one has a heartache we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
Back to vs. 10- Honor one another above yourselves. The main point here is to act toward one another with courtesy, unselfishness, and humility. So many problems are caused by pride and by arrogance in a family. Conflicts over the TV, conflicts over schedule, conflicts over space, etc.
Humility (Vs. 16)
Live in harmony with one another. We are all different but we should all be working together to make beautiful music for Jesus Christ. When the instruments follow the conductor beautiful music is made. When we follow Jesus Christ as our conductor we make beautiful music. “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” Romans 1:8, NIV.
Do not be proud- Warning to Gentiles: “They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” Romans 11:20, 21, NIV.
Be willing to associate with people of low position. “So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view.” 2 Corinthians 5:16, NIV. All earthly distinctions should not matter to people who are brothers and sisters in Christ. We should not regard anyone as inferior because of upbringing or occupation. Now, Paul is not telling us to associate only with “people of low position”. He is telling us to include these Christians in our circle of friends and not to discriminate against them. It is appropriate to pay special attention to those regarded as lowly in our culture because these people are likely to be shunned by the world in general. Make up for it in the church.
Do not be conceited. Also translated as “Do not be wise in your own estimation.” “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” Romans 1:22, NIV. Romans 12:2- Transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Share what we have (Vs. 13)
Share with God’s people who are in need.
“There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” Acts 4:34, 35, NIV.
From the offering many missionaries are supported, benevolence is supplied.
We also need to do this on an individual level without recognition. ““Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40, NIV.
Practice hospitality.
At one local restaurant there philosophy is “We treat strangers like friends and friends like family." Shouldn’t this be said of the church?
Newspaper article in 1977- “Jim and Linda Onan wanted an unusual house. Accordingly they built a 7,000 square foot pyramid covered in 24 karat gold. The house is surrounded by a moat that Onan plans to stock with sharks.” How sad! There are many people wanting to live in luxury and to live undisturbed by anyone. They may not have sharks, but they offer no invitation to others to visit them and make sure that they are unapproachable. How different the picture in the Bible! There the home is to be open for hospitality. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9, NIV.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10, NIV.
