LOVE STRONG

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

IF YOU LIKE THIS POST PLEASE FOLLOW US, SHARE WITH OTHERS AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND GIVE US A LIKE.

Translate this site into your preferred language, look for our Google translator in our home page: diningwithjesus.net

Traduce este sitio en tu idioma preferido, busca nuestro traductor de Google en nuestra página de inicio ve a: diningwithjesus.net

In our continuing study of Romans chapter 12, we come to a collection of short statements that are meant to help the believer in Jesus Christ understand what it looks like to live their lives as an act of worship that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. 

9 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. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, 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. Practice hospitality.

(Romans 12:9-13 NIV11)

Sincere Love

Can you tell when someone is insincere, pretending, putting on a mask of love to hide their bitter and angry scowl underneath? 

I imagine that you have had lots of practice trying to discern the difference between someone who actually loves you cares about you and someone who is just pretending. 

The true disciple of Jesus Christ rejects such pretense and duplicity. We are the people who let their yes be yes, and their no be no. We are a people marked by sincerity and honesty. We need to embrace this call to be real with those God has placed into our lives. 

Hate Evil

Do not be shocked by the call to hate evil. Evil brings pain and misery everywhere it goes. The child of God cannot play around with evil. We cannot entertain evil in any of its forms. 

If we learn to see evil in our own hearts, in our words and attitudes, in the entertainment we consume, and in the choices of the world around us, we will be able to avoid the pain that such godless trash brings into our lives and into the lives of those we love. 

Cling to Good

Like a child holding tight to a parent, we are called to wrap our arms around that the good, pleasing, and perfect will of the Heavenly Father. In order to cling to what is good, we must first let go of that which is not from the Lord. 

If we want to live in the goodness of God, we must make the choice to turn away from the sphere of evil. We can only serve one master, evil or good, your choice.  

Devotion and Honor

Honor one another above yourselves. Imagine what your family would look like if each member of your immediate family chose to show one another real honor. 

Imagine what your most important relationships would look like if both parties actually sought to care for the other’s needs and wants as a matter of priority. 

This one idea could change the world. If the people of Jesus Christ showed real honor to the other members of the Body of Christ, the world around us would break down the doors of the church to be a part of something so special. 

This is God’s good and pleasing will. Honor someone more than yourself today. 

Spiritual Fervor

Zeal. Fervor. Energy. Courage. Strength. Passion. Excitement. 

Real Christian faith is described using these action packed power-words all throughout the Bible. Do not be afraid but have courage. Do not be timid in the exercise of your walk with God but be filled with the Spirit of Courage and Strength. 

If your walk with the Lord is running on empty, then ask the Lord to fill you with his passion and power today. Get excited about eternity. Look up and see the Lord is on his way!

J-P-F

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Ask Jesus Christ to help you be joyful as you look forward to his coming and to your entrance into the gift of his eternal life. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to provide his gift of patience when you are facing hardship and trial. You may not have the strength to stand firm, but he does and the Lord will provide!

Are you in need? Pray. Are you struggling? Bring it to God. Are you excited and joyful? Celebrate with the angels in heaven as you bring it God in prayer. 

Share

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. You cannot meet the needs of the broken and lost world around you, but you can meet the needs of the church. You can lift up the hurting and needy within the Body of Christ.

It is God’s good and pleasing will that we are generous to those who are a part of the family of faith. We are called to care for our own before we seek to care for any other.  

Practice Hospitality

Open your home to the people of God. Share your bounty with those near and far. Invite someone over for dinner. Give a gift card to someone you admire in the Lord. 

Be a blessing to others in the same way that the Lord has been a blessing to you!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.