Love and harmony

Following the death of my father, some of the children in Uganda I’ve known and worked with for years made signs for me expressing their love and condolences. The gesture warmed my heart, buoyed my spirits, and reminded me what it means to have others acknowledge your losses and to walk with you through them.

I’ve served these children, their families, and their community for many years. For more than a decade, we’ve laughed, celebrated milestones, and mourned deaths together. Our different cultures, ages, languages, and backgrounds have been no obstacle to living out Romans 12 and its exhortation to “be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

In this passage, rich in instruction for how to honor others in ways that bring honor to God, we learn that our ability to love and serve is a gift from Him. Out of His love for us, He allows us to share in the joy of meeting others’ needs.

Verse six explains, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” These gifts include: serving others, leading, and showing kindness (with gladness) (Romans 12:7-8).

As an overflow of our hearts for all God has done for us, and as an expression of the love we’ve received from Him (Romans 12:1), we’re invited into authentic love (Romans 12:9) and into the delight of honoring each other (Romans 12:10). Such love, when done in recognition of all we’ve received from God, compels us to respond when His people are in need—to practice hospitality, to pray and keep on praying in times of trouble, and to work hard and serve Him enthusiastically (Romans 12:10-13).

To live in harmony with one another—what a beautiful gift God has made possible for us!

Our Daily Journey ©2018 ODB Ministries, 3000, Kraft Ave., SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555-0001, USA. Used by permission. For this and other materials contact ODB Ministries at 322 P. Guevarra, San Juan City (Phils.); Tel.: 722-2010.