Genuine Christian

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Romans 12

Paul, having shown us that Christ sacrificed His life for all Christians, writes that each Christian is to make themselves a “living sacrifice, holy and, acceptable to God” as our spiritual worship to Him who has shown His great love for us. Christians are to be willing to die for the faith that we profess. Christians are to grow in that faith until Jesus returns or calls us into His presence. Each Christian is given a measure of grace, sufficient for salvation, not for our arrogance but, for our “sober judgment” that we not think more highly of ourselves than any other Christian or human. Christians are parts of the body of Christ with Christ as the Head of that body. As members of the body of Christ, Christians are given gifts, by God, which are to be used as we live and breathe and have our being in Christ who gives us all things. Christians are to, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Christians are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ as we serve in this life our Lord of all Creation. We are to bless our persecutors, rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep and, live in harmony as best as we are able to in Christ our Lord. Christians are not to be arrogant with one another for we are all the same in Christ who is our Great Shepherd. Though, in this life, we may be reviled and persecuted, we are not to seek vengeance on anyone, saved or not, who seeks to harm us for any reason. We are to love our neighbor who exists with us in this world and to care for even our enemy when we find him in need. Oh, Christian, do not be overcome by evil but, overcome evil with good.

Source: S C Ball September 6, 2023