TOPIC: LOVE II

Romans 12:9-21

[9]  Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Do only what is good.

[10]  Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself.

[11]  As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him!

[12]  Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time.

[13]  Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.

[14]  Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them.

[15]  When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too.

[16]  Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.

[17]  If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them. Try to do what everyone thinks is right.

[18]  Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone.

[19]  My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says,

“I am the one who punishes;

I will pay people back.”

[20]  But you should do this:

“If you have enemies who are hungry,

give them something to eat.

If you have enemies who are thirsty,

give them something to drink.

In doing this you will make them feel ashamed.” 

[21]  Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good. (ERV).

MESSAGE:

The scriptures told us that the only thing we are permitted to old someone is to love them (Romans 13:8), and that's what we are expected to be. It doesn't cost you much if at all it cost you anything to love others but it pays most.

The reason why our society is the way it is, is because of lack of love, man no longer wants to wait for God to take vengeance for them they want to do it by themselves, some will say ''you do me I do you God no go vex'', come on at what time did God told you that if you repay vengeance which He said belongs to Him alone, that He will not be angry with you. 

And then some man will say ''God is too slow to react to situations so it is better I do it myself'', well all these are tricks that the enemy is using to lure men into continual disobedience to God. 

See even those you see to be your enemies feel free with them, open up your heart to them, infact if you know how helpful it is to you to pray for the well-being of your enemies, you will start doing it right now. Come to think of something, if someone offends you and you said you will not forgive the person, you will be the one to suffer the greatest part, there are some times that the person didn't even know that you are angry with him/her but within you, you will be dying gradually, one thing you must know is that if you old anything against anyone, it will affect your spiritual, social, marital, financial academical life, infact everything about you will be effected, it will even make you look older than your age. You see but if you had leave all for God, you wouldn't have passed through such pain, someone will say ''this person has repeatedly done this and if he/she is not repaid he/she will think I am a fooll'', well the original foolishness is to allow the devil deceive you against the instructions of your Father in heaven because your Father said ''vengeance is His and that He will repay''(Romans 12:19). So what are you gonna do when you are persecuted, bless your persecutors which ever way you can, bless them and don't waste your time to curse them because that's not your work.

Therefore, dearly beloved brethrens, just as your Father in heaven brings down the rain for both the righteous and the wicked, the Godly and the ungodly, so you are expected to be good to everyone you come across in life because even your way of life can save souls to the kingdom. 

Finally, don’t allow evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good because it pays perfectly.

Further reading: Matthew 5:43-48,  1Corinthians 13:1-8.