"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil…" Romans 12:9
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus said the two greatest things in life are to love God and people. But we are not just to love, we are to do so sincerely, or without hypocrisy - fake. Love must be real. For this to happen, we must learn to hate. "…Hate what is evil…" Romans 12:9b David said, 'Those who love the Lord hate evil (Psalm 97:10). Jesus also knew the more we loved God, the better we'd love people, which would then naturally cause a hatred for evil, because of it's affects on the ones we love - God and people. Hating evil also proves (sincere) our love, so let us:
CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD.
"…Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9b
To cling to what is good is to fasten (glue) yourself to it. How do we do this is to be: cautious with the friends we choose; careful with what we read, watch, listen to, and conscientious about the paths we walk on. Good good information and good places will produce good results. David wrote in Psalm 34:14, 'Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.' John, in his 3rd letter to the church, tells us not to imitate what is evil but what is good. In doing so, we prove we are from God.
CONQUER WITH GOOD.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
Prior to this statement, Paul teaches us in verses 16-20: to live in harmony with one another; to check our egos; to not repay evil for evil, but to do right; to live (if possible) at peace with everyone; and do not take revenge, but let God take care of it. In doing so we will not be overcome by evil but will overwhelm it with good. God wants us think missional (His Kingdom), not personal (our hurts and offenses). But for us to think missional we must live like Jesus, who overwhelmed people with His gentle and kind spirit. Our choice is simple: by evil, or with good.
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