The Love Test (Romans 12)

In today’s reading (Romans 12) we get a list of what sincere love looks like in a person’s life. It’s not the famous list from 1 Corinthians 13, it’s the not-so-famous one that wouldn’t sound great at weddings. So I was reading through the list this morning trying to evaluate which are more true of me, and which are less.

And I thought that it might be helpful for you to do the same. And it might be interesting to see if there’s some kind of theme for the people who read this blog, and maybe helpful to have people do a little confessing. So, from the Romans 12 list below, if you feel so inclined, leave a comment sharing one or two of these that you feel okay about, and one or two that you still have some real growing in… If you want, feel free to share why, or to include how you think you could grow in the kind of love you’re weak in. I’ll start at the bottom of this post:

• ⁹Hate what is evil;
• cling to what is good.
• ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
• Honor one another above yourselves.
• ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
• ¹²Be joyful in hope,
• patient in affliction,
• faithful in prayer.
• ¹³Share with God’s people who are in need.
• Practice hospitality.
• ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
• ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice;
• mourn with those who mourn.
• ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another.
• Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
• ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
• ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
• ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath

More true of me: (1) “Honor one another above yourselves.”
Less true of me: (1) “Hate what is evil.” (2) Be “patient in affliction”