by Rich Carlson

Love must be pretty important to Paul, because he defines it in very clear action steps. Let’s take a look at the steps found in the twelfth chapter of Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome. He says that "love must" cause me:

•  to be sincere (12:9).
• to hate what is evil (12:9).
• to cling to what is good (12:9).
• to be devoted to one another in brotherly love (12:10).
• to honor others above myself (12:10).
• to never be lacking in zeal (12:11).
• to keep my spiritual fervor (12:11).
• to keep serving the Lord (12:11).
• to be joyful in hope (12:12).
• to be patient in affliction (12:12).
• to be faithful in prayer (12:12).
• to share with God’s people who are in need (12:13).
• to practice hospitality (12:13).
• to bless those who persecute me and not to curse (12:14).
• to rejoice with those who rejoice (12:15).
• to mourn with those who mourn (12:15).
• to live in harmony with one another (12:16).
• to not be proud (12:16).
• to be willing to associate with people of low position (12:16).
• to not be conceited (12:16).
• to not repay anyone evil for evil (12:17).
• to be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone (12:17).
• if possible, as far as it depends on me, to live at peace with everyone (12:18).
• to not take revenge, leaving that up to God (12:19).
• to feed my enemy if he is hungry (12:20).
• to give my enemy something to drink if she is thirsty (12:20).
• to not be overcome by evil (12:21).
• to overcome evil with good (12:21).

What a check list this is. It allows me to see how I am doing with this thing called love.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.