Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly 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 God’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.a Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”b says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”c
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
*(Verse 15), “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn”.
In light of everything that has happened with hurricane Katrina and other events around the world we can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are living in the last days. Never the less God challenges us to have a heart of compassion. It’s a time of mourning for every Christian and for the people that have been affected in Louisiana and the surrounding states like Alabama and Mississippi. There are different ways we can mourn and carry at least a little of the burdens that these people are carrying.
1. We must stick together and be an extension of God’s Love.
*(Verse 9), “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly 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. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality”.
2. Instead of criticizing and dividing we must join forces.
*(Verse 17),”Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”b says the Lord”.
3. Everyone has something they can do.
(Verse 20),“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”c
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
4. Prayer is the biggest aid. (Verse 12), “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer”.
