Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
December 15, 2021
Read Romans 12:9-16
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.
Good Morning! Love should be shown without pretending!
Imagine a world in which everyone was loved equally! I have met a few people who were in positions of leadership in my life who were able to maintain their “normal” status regardless of their title or job. Just because this person could skip to the front of the line, he/she chooses to take their place with everyone else. As one without the title, I appreciate this type of leadership.
When we serve our Lord, we should do so not out of obligation, but through a desire to share our blessings with others. Love should be shown without pretending. . . . Be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord. If we allow ourselves to find joy in every opportunity of service, we will begin to feel our hearts warming as the kindling within us begins to smolder.
Each act of love through service adds fuel and soon the fire of the Holy Spirit will be burning within you. To maintain that fire, we simply need to continue serving others as we share the light of the world. If we can stoke the fires in enough of God’s children, we will find ourselves nurturing a world in which everyone is loved equally.
Creator God, Thank You for loving us. Help us look for the love in others as You see in love in each of us. Through the Holy Spirit within us, may we joyfully share Your love with all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Regardless of the circumstance, I can look for ways to serve God.
Stoke your fire! Pastor Liz
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