Really Love Each Other

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Romans 12:9-10 NLT

I have been studying the book of Romans over the past few months with my small group, and we have been having a great time learning together. A few weeks ago we were looking at chapter 12, and the two verses you just read caught my attention. What really made me pause was the opening phrase, “Don’t pretend to love others.” What does that mean? I think Paul is trying to get us to realize the difference between tolerance of others and loving them as Christ loves them. To tolerate others is to acknowledge their existence and give them a nod from time to time but not engage with them. To “really love them” is to stop and engage with them. This doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with everyone; it means that you show a real interest in everyone. Even those you may not agree with. It is possible to care for and show concern for everyone. It is possible to be aware of the needs and hurts of others and to be present with them in those difficulties.
The second thought that gave me pause was the last phrase, “Take delight in honoring each other.” The CSB version says it this way “Out-do one another in showing honor.” Both translations leave us with the idea that we need to go out of our way and to great lengths to honor others. What does that look like? Well, honor means to respect. So, show others respect. In spite of the things we may differ on. I think as Christ followers respecting others is seeing them as children of God, created in his image and deeply loved by him, then acting on that knowledge to treat them the same way Jesus would treat them.
These two thoughts have lead me to ask myself this question. How well have I been honoring others? How well have you been doing at loving and honoring others?

-Pastor Tim