Romans 12:9-21 KJV 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12, I usually talk about the unity of the Spirit as well as the offices of the church, but I want to skip the first 8 verses this morning and write about the things we all need to be doing as believers. It hard to love without hypocrisy/dissimulation at times. Christian sincerity comes from the heart and mind both. It must come with love that is from God, because our human nature to express love is hard at times. It is easier to enjoy a favorite desert without worrying about the diet then to love at times people that do not show love back. Christians do not be disappointed when people refuse help or aid of any kind. First rule of giving as a Christian is to consider is there a need that needs fulfilling? Will what you give meet the need or only complicate and burden the person receiving. Sometimes a person that is in need as to learn to refuse things. People needing food and everyone including their best friend gives them boxes of food. They then look like a pack rat. Sometimes I think those giving need a set of rules for giving. First figure if the person has a need. Second see if they have a way of giving it away after receiving it if they can not use it. Third give it without expecting anything including a thank you. Most of all obey the Spirit of God and not the emotion that stirs you to act because of sympathy or empathy. Pray about your giving. Seek God on whether to give. That last year clothing share it by all means but do not give it to someone that has no place to share it, if they can not use it. To be stuck with someone elses clothes with no one to share it with can be really a problem. True one can throw it away or take it to a place that takes use clothing, but seriously why burden someone with something they do not need. In truth give, ask, and do not mind refusals. Refusals is not a bad thing, it means they know no one that can use it and they themselves can not. Do not force your giving on to someone else, there others in need. Prefer the company of the brother's and sisters of Christ, but also do not forsake the ministry of winning the lost to Christ. You perfer company of other believers to the point the work of Christ is not being done. Jesus sat an dined with sinners when he could of dined with religious leaders and believers. Fellowship of believer is not to exclude the sinner. It is a preference of social need here. A need for fellowship with others. I had to back up to the first few verse to explain when giving give to church, and to the lost. Christian charity begins within the church world and expands to those outside the church world. Giving to local church also enables you to learn to give to the lost. The church is good training ground for giving, but not all churches show the same way to give with the love Christ. So use good judgment on how if you are a receiver like to be given too. Then give likewise, knowing those receiving will understand the love you give them by giving. Paul also talks about not being slothful in business, in other words laziness. Those who work need to know to always do there best despite the slothful people around them, To live in peace with all people. To love your enemy as yourself. To love your enemy reaps judgment on their heart and mind. See people naturally feel guilty by receiving of good, if they themselves give not, or do not show kindness themselves. The keeping up with jones mentality is in play when you help your enemy. Natural to want to show kindness back to someone that is kind to you. If someone smiles often one smile is as contagious as a yawn. if one person sees another person yawn it often is repeat even if they try and not to do so. There is no rhyme or reason for everyone to yawn, unless bad air in the building. In fact there is more reason for all to smile. The separation of greeting the next customer despite the rudeness of the customer before mentality as if nothing is wrong. Oh how guilty one feels when common sense of their own rudeness comes into mind. In truth the guilt of actions can plague one after their common sense is restored. Those not feeling good, desiring what they want when they want it because they can. I get sick of seeing leaders with the attitude it going to be my way or the highway, never caring if maybe there might be a better way. Or if they lighten the attitude they get a better response from some other people. Sometimes I wonder if some leaders mind be falling on their face but refusing to admit they failed. In truth failure is apart of life and admitting fault will it should be equal fair. In truth loving each and every person with the same love you give yourself should be equal, but it seldom is. In truth our human stinginess is probably the one thing that causes resentment attitude from others. Yet in truth we all have our protective attitudes in check when it comes to hospitality or giving of any kind. No one wants to be hurt by giving. No one wants to be refused. Yet no one likes the attitude of not receiving because they did not take as expected. Consider loving all people the same. The only way to give is with a cheerful heart, to give with the love of God. Love is gift of the Holy Spirit, and is given to each believer and even non believers. Love is something we all desire, but perfect love comes from God. Untainted love comes from God. Giving by the Holy Spirit must come with love. Loving even if the person receiving does not understand it yet. God has to be the enabler when it comes to loving our enemies and others with Christ like love. Allow Christ to enable you to love, because in truth you probably can not do it on your own with somethings. Let God revenge those that harm you. After all devil will get what he rightfully due one day. Dear Heavenly Father, enable us to love even our enemies. That is a gift of the Holy Spirit to love our enemies as ourselves. Help us to give with Christ like love. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Matthew 5:43-48 KJV 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. http://www.turtle30cshell.com