How do you naturally respond to instruction? I remember syllabus week in college being overwhelming. Starting five classes with five different syllabi in one week was a lot to absorb as an eighteen-year-old. Every professor had different instructions for how to best succeed in their class. But I knew that if I allowed myself to be controlled by feeling overwhelmed, I would miss what the instructions for the semester were. The syllabi were meant to be read carefully and followed.
In Romans 12:9-13, God lists thirteen “instructions.” These instructions are to be seen more as biblical encouragements. In my Bible, this section of Romans is titled “Marks of a True Christian.” At the top of God’s list is how to love Him and others.
Love Changes Us
Learning to love God and others is so important as a Christian because the way we love sets us apart from the rest of the world. We must first understand that God is love. First John 4:8 says, “The person who does not love God does not know God because God is love.” This verse is saying that God’s number one characteristic is love.
If we know Him, we will also be marked by the way we love. God’s love changes us. If we have a relationship with Jesus, God lives in our hearts and transforms the way we love.
Now, obeying this list of instructions just to check off the boxes, or to be seen as a good person, defeats the purpose of living for God. In Christ, we have been set free from legalism. We no longer live under the law because Christ has fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17).
Jesus, in His perfection, was the perfect sacrifice the law required. Since He died on the cross for our sins, we are no longer bound to the law. Therefore, when we try to obey the law to be perfect or to be noticed by others, we’re missing the point. We have freedom in Christ and freedom to obey God’s commands out of love for Him.
God is not mad at us when we fail to uphold His instructions perfectly. No, because God is love, and we have a relationship with Jesus, He responds to us in love. How should this motivate us to love God and others? Knowing the character of God and our identity in Christ allows us to live differently than the world.
These instructions are not things we have to follow, but rather we get to follow. Because God loves us, He’s given us His Word to help us know how to live for Him.
Living Out God’s Love
Now, let’s take a closer look at these actions to follow in Romans 12. Our love can be genuine by testing our hearts (Romans 12:9). If we are loving others out of a selfish desire to gain man’s approval, we are not honed into God’s love. Our love in Christ should be selfless, sacrificial, and purposeful. The Holy Spirit exists in our hearts to glorify Christ, not ourselves.
To “abhor what is evil, cling to what is good” (12:9) means to cast away evil and cling to godliness.
Being “devoted to one another with mutual love” (12:10) implies that we have familiarity and unity with other believers, which takes effort in relationships. God is asking us to know other Christians and to be known by other Christians.
What about “showing eagerness in honoring one another” (12:10)? We are called to treat others better than they deserve to be treated. We cannot do this on our own strength. We must rely on God’s Spirit to help us.
The next line says, “do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord” (12:11). This command can be broken down to not be lazy in desiring God. We should long to serve the Lord and be passionate about His passions.
“Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persistent in prayer” (12:12) asks us to remember the hope we have in Christ. Our lives on earth are short. In Christ, we have the hope of eternal life in heaven with God.
Lastly, we should “contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality” (12:13). We can love others by making them feel seen, valued, and welcomed.
Loving God and others with God’s love is only possible with the help of God’s Spirit. Consider how you are loving others today. Is your life marked by a genuine, selfless, and sacrificial love? If not (hint: none of us are loving others perfectly), how can you take one faithful step to love like Jesus today?
