Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 5, 2023
Read Roman 12:9-18
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. 11 Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! 12 Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 14 Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy and cry with those who are crying. 16 Consider everyone as equal and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. 17 Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions but show respect for what everyone else believes is good. 18 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.
Good Morning, Be genuine in your love!
As I type this morning, I am grieving and rejoicing in the passing of my dad, Bill Webb. I mourn our earthly loss, but I am so blessed to have had him with me for the past 65 years. Through his living, he taught me many things. He loved to spend time with others talking until the wee hours of the night. He loved to eat, travel, garden, and take photographs. I’m sure that he has rejoined my mom and his friends and family who have gone before him. Heaven has acquired a new angel this morning.
Be on fire in your spirit! Paul is giving us quite the list of do this and don’t do that. I appreciate verse 18, If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Paul had no delusions about our weaknesses and shortcomings as a fellow sinner. He had been a persecutor of Christians before Christ met him on the Road to Damascus, and he would later be imprisoned for upholding his Christian beliefs.
I will leave you to read and reread this short passage this morning. The text has multiple sermon themes, but the bottom line is to love and serve God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as yourself. As you walk this earth, let everyone who sees you know that you are Christian by your words and especially by your actions.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
Gracious God, Thank You for being with us. You bless us. Your love is the beginning of all we are and will be. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Because God loves me, I will never miss an opportunity to tell others I love them.
Love God! Pastor Liz
Dear Pastor Liz, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. May our Lord Jesus comfort you and your family in this difficult time and also happy time, knowing that your dad is with his father in heaven!!! Please let me know if I can do anything for you! Love the Garcia family!