Love, Romans 12:9-21

Last night's BSF lecture was so encouraging. I felt such a conviction in the way that I deal with others, especially those who I so easily 'hate'/enemies. Any way, here are some rabbitty-trail thoughts from it.

Love's
Character - Romans 12:9-12
Response - Romans 12:13-16
Victory - Romans 12:17-21

The world will not care about the Lord we love unless we show it.
What is love?
Love is not a feeling or an emotion, it is an action. (Remember D.C. Talk's 'Love is a Verb'? ;) Love is not meant to be a demand.
To the world, love is lust, personal preference, selfish, what makes us happy, all about what we feel.

There are 4 characteristics of Biblical Love:
1. Eros - sexual love
2. Storge - family devotion
3. Filia - friends, brotherly
4. agape - selfless, unconditional, giving

Sincere love characterizes the Christian faith. Sin Cera means, 'without wax' - tying back to ancient times with pottery. When a clay pot was made, sin cera was inscribed on the bottom to show that this was indeed 'the real thing', without cracks. If there were cracks, wax would be used to seal them up again.
'let love be sincere' also is 'let love be without hypocrisy' - to put on a mask, to pretend to be something else.

Again, true love must be from the heart; true love does not cover an ulterior motive. It can only be given by the Holy Spirit.

How can we love? We love because He first loved us. We ought to see this in light of who God is, and who we are as created by Him.

Love is discerning - We are commanded to 'hate what is evil' and 'cleave to what is good'. It is so easy to find the negative things in others. It seems such a challenge to look for what is good and love and encourage others in that. But we are to be honest in our words and actions with all, encouraging them to seek that which is good and to cease the evil way.

Love is devoted - we are like family because we are united in Christ. How can we show devotion to one another?

-Honor one another - elevate the other person, look for what is good in others and praise them for it.
-be fervent - bubble over with enthusiasm & do not be lazy with your zeal. Serve Him for His glory and other's benefits.

Love has an eternal perspective - we are to long for eternity, be joyful and hope as we look ahead. We are to be faithful in prayer to ask for love.

Love is an obligation, not an option - love is not dependent on another's reaction. It seeks their good, not ours.

Putting this into practice -
Look for the needs of others, do not be prideful -*( this also means that you must allow others to serve you sometimes.)
practice hospitality- look for ways to make other's feel more comfortable. Believers should be made to feel at home with one another.
Bless your enemies - do not slander them, or curse them. God's love is the greatest weapon against evil.
Empathize with those who rejoice and those who mourn.
Do not be conceited - live at peace with others and do not demand your own rights.
Reach out to those who may be different than you. Be willing to love whomever God puts in your path.