Daily Reading: Romans 12:9-10:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
So, when you read it some questions might arise. Be devoted to one another- how far does this devotion go? What does that mean be devoted? Do I have to join their fantasy football league and do a 6 am spin class with them Monday mornings? Or how about honor one another above yourself. How do I practically do that? All good questions that we might ask. Actually, the answer is straightforward, and the bonus is that it isn’t even weird in what our relationships should look like toward each other, but there are some super high standards set that is impossible for us to do apart from Christ bearing forth this fruit in our lives.
“Love must be sincere.” Actually, this can be translated in the Greek love must not be hypocritical.
Paul is still unfolding what it means to have a transformed mind from verse 2 of this chapter and what it looks like when we are not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought but are thinking highly of Christ with the measure of faith that we have as verse 3 says. A person with a transformed mind does not make much of themselves but makes much of Christ (Romans 9:2,9). The transformed renewed mind carries with it a lifestyle that shows the worth of Christ-exaltation over the worth of self-exaltation.
The instruction to love without hypocrisy is really an exhortation to know Christ and love Christ and find your satisfaction in Christ so that you do not crave the praise of men any more.
“Be devoted to one another in love.” You were made as a new creation to display the worth of Christ to others. That is what is good for them. That’s what it means to love them. Be devoted (philostorgos), the mutual love siblings have for each other to one another in (Philadelphia), the love of friendship and camaraderie; brotherly love.
“Honor one another above yourself.” How do I do that?
How love toward a fellow believer is designed to work is that I am not waiting on someone else to make the first move, I am taking the lead to show you love (Philadelphia) friendship and camaraderie because of who you are- my brother or sister in Christ (philostorgos) [Romans 12:10]. Jesus said I want you to love each other the way I loved you, which is I died for you (John 13:34, John 15:3).