Being sincere

Scott Harman January 24, 2024 4 2

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Romans 12: 9-13 (NIVUK)

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.

The theme of this whole week is “Being Ourselves.” 

How many times have you heard the advice, “Just be yourself.”

The image in my mind plays over and over of Anthony Michael Hall in the movie, Breakfast Club, chewing his pencil, asking himself, “Who am I? Who am I?”

Or — how often have you experienced someone being unpleasant, saying, “This is just who I am. Take it or leave it!”

We are defined differently by the world around us than we are by God. Our identity as God’s Children could actually be pretty difficult to maintain with the world telling us what we are all the time.  

Our passage today is like an urging to lean into being God’s child. Don’t accept the world’s definitions of yourself blindly.  

When you love, love sincerely.  

Know the difference between good and evil. Don’t join in on evil to fit someone else’s view of who you are. Stick to what is good in the Lord’s eyes — your heavenly father’s eyes.

Put others before yourself. As God’s child you can be secure enough in your identity to know you have everything you need. You’re free to support your neighbours.  

Be joyful, patient, prayerful, hospitable.

These qualities are those of the Lord’s child.  

This is what I want to be. This is what I aspire to be. This is the identity that God says I can embody. 

Prayer:

Dear God, today, empower us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are not our jobs, or the things we own. We are not the labels that are placed on us by the world to neatly categorise us and keep us separate.  

We are God’s children capable of immense sacrificial love. We are able as your children to be joyful; to handle hard circumstances with patience; to talk to you at any time; and to welcome those whom we meet into such grace.

Make our love sincere today in whatever circumstances we might encounter.

Amen