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Priscilla: Romans 12:9-21
Love in God

9 Let love be without dissimulation, in horror fleeing from evil, cleaving to the good,

10 in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having gone before one another in honor;

11 in diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 in hope, rejoicing; in affliction, enduring; in prayer, steadfastly continuing;

13 imparting to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

14 Bless those persecuting you; bless, and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with rejoicing ones, and weep with weeping ones;

16 minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly. Do not become wise within yourselves;

17 returning evil for evil to no one; providing right things before all men. Prov. 3:4

18 If possible, from you being in peace with all men;

19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath, for it has been written, “Vengeance is Mine,” “I will repay,” says the Lord. Deut. 32:35

20 Then “if one hostile to you hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink; for doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Prov. 25:21, 22

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with good.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, today I offer You my reflection on Your Word in Romans 12:9-21 regarding love in You.

Dear God, I understand verses 9 and 11 to mean that You are love, and that whoever does not love does not know You. Your nature is true love, and so those who are in Christ are created with the nature of love, reflecting Your true love. Therefore, in Your people, there is no pretense of love; they are always willing to give, help others sincerely and unconditionally, without greed, deceit, or exploitation of others for their purposes. True love for brothers and sisters in Christ means loving them more than oneself, being willing to sacrifice one’s life for them, just as Christ sacrificed for the Church. Your people love one another and are enthusiastic, supportive, encouraging, and leading each other to grow in faith. They have a burning spirit in serving You. Every action of Your people comes from genuine love: love for You, for themselves, and for others. Every action of Your people is in service to You, to honor You.

Dear God, I understand verse 12 to mean that You always love and protect Your people, so I have confidence in Your care. Even if there are disasters, adversity, or persecution, Your people do not need to worry or be afraid, for I know that everything happens with Your permission and through Your good will. Therefore, when facing all difficulties and trials, Your people should rejoice, endure, and pray persistently, waiting for Your salvation.

Dear God, I understand 13 to mean that in the Church, Your people must have love, share, and help in material and financial matters for the saints who sincerely follow Your Word and are in need. Your people must also have a hospitable heart, welcoming and caring for brothers and sisters who come to visit and temporarily stay in their homes.

Dear God, I understand verse 14 to mean that the Word of God teaches us, Your children, to forgive those who have sinned against us and to love our enemies. Therefore, as God’s people, we must not seek revenge or curse those who harm us or treat us unfairly. Instead, we should pray and ask You to forgive our enemies and to grant them more opportunities for repentance and salvation through Christ. Revenge belongs to You, and You will judge righteously.

Dear God, I understand verse 15 to mean that only Your true people who share the same love, have the same faith in Christ, and have the same Holy Spirit can empathize, rejoice, and weep with their brothers and sisters in Christ or with those who do not believe in God in genuine happiness or sadness.

Dear God, I understand verse 16 to mean that God’s people must think and act based on the Word of God. Being God’s true people, they have wisdom from God. However, they should not think that they are wiser or more knowledgeable than others and boast about their wisdom or try to teach others according to their wisdom.

Dear God, I understand verses 17 to 19 to mean that God’s people have the love, purity, and righteousness of God. Therefore, they should not take revenge or commit evil or seek revenge like the people of the world. When God’s true people speak or act in front of others, they should always think of what is holy, righteous, good, and worthy of the saints’ respect for everyone, to bring glory to God. The Holy Spirit teaches us to do our best to live in peace with everyone, so God’s people must always be patient in order to live in harmony with others. The Lord Jesus Christ was wrongfully reviled, but He did not feel ashamed because He knew He had done nothing wrong and He believed that “Surely, God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Who then can condemn me?”

Dear God, I understand that verses 20 and 21 mean that for the sake of loving and obeying You, the true people of God can live happily, triumphantly, and contentedly in all circumstances. They should not seek revenge against those who harm them or curse their enemies. Instead, the people of God should show mercy and kindness to their enemies, knowing that seeking revenge is evil and a sin that goes against You. The people of God entrust revenge to You.

I thank You, Father, and I pray that my life may be a reflection of Your love, justice, and true holiness throughout my life. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
04/06/2023