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PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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While today’s study from Romans 12 is wonderfully simple and easy to understand, it speaks volumes to those seeking to live in such a way that their lives are given over to the Lord as an act of true and proper worship. 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

(Romans 12:14-16 NIV11)

Bless

Showing kindness to those who are seeking to harm you might just be the most challenging and slightly crazy instructions given by the Lord Jesus Christ to his people. 

We can hear this challenging teaching from the Lord Jesus as found in Luke 6:27-31, “27 But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

The goal for the follower of Christ is to be so filled with the love of Christ that when we are called upon to suffer, we respond in love rather than in hate and anger. This is not something that we can do on our own. We are dependent upon the love of God and the work of the Spirit to be able to show this kind of mercy to others.  

Do not curse

Responding in love to those who show us hate is not something that we can do on our own. We are not capable of such radical grace, but Jesus Christ is. As we draw nearer to the Lord, we find the strength we need to turn away from bitterness and reprisal. 

If you are struggling with forgiveness or demonstrations of kindness, ask the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Turn to the Lord and seek his strength. 

Be present

Verse 15 tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” The point here is that the child of God needs to be present with those God places into our lives. We need to join those we are seeking to love in their circumstances. 

Sure, we can help lift them up when they are down, but it is also good to just join them in their mourning and loss. We do not have to try and make everything better in the moment. If they are crying, then join them. That’s what Jesus did. 

Harmony

The world around you might not want to live in harmony with you or with the church of Jesus Christ, but the people within the family of faith are definitely called to live at peace with one another. 

Jesus Christ taught us this truth in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

The people of the church must love one another. We simply have to. The plan for sharing the love of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world is absolutely dependent upon the unified love of God’s people toward one another. 

Respect all 

Jesus Christ showed no deference to the rich and powerful. He treated all people as valuable in the eyes of God. We too must not allow the trappings of wealth or the results of the genetic lottery cause us to value one person over another. 

We are called to follow the example of Jesus Christ and associate with whomever the Lord sends our way. 

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.

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