love and life together

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:11-13

These three verses are part of a larger context of five verses (Romans 12:9-13) that describe the life of Christ in Christian community. It is what Christian connection looks like. When believers are assembled, this is what we must be. It is a call to life together in Christ. And this context is all in command form. A string of thirteen commands fired off in rapid succession here are not optional, but essential for us. The commands tell us that this kind of connecting, dynamic, interactive culture is essential for the church to commit to, maintain, and develop healthy Christian community.

There must be a commitment to the genuine expression of love for one another. It can’t be forced or manufactured by selfish motives, but must be good, springing purely from the saving work of the gospel in our hearts (Romans 12:9). This love feels like family... the term is brotherly affection. And it is so strong that it is almost competitive as Christians seek to outdo each other and love one another well.. “I love you, more...” “No, I love you, more!” (Romans 12:10). This love first serves Jesus with the motivation of serving Him above all. It isn’t lazy, but fervent, seeking the Lord’s approval (Romans 12:11). It is Jesus we seek to make much of as we care for one another.

This love makes it through trials and difficulties. Paul wrote these encouragement to churches in persecution. I am writing these reflections after 46 days of quarantine and now more weeks of rebuilding life together in which the church has not been able to worship corporately in the same physical space, and more challenges await us moving forward. But the church in crisis is not in chaos! Instead, when hard times come, believers focus on true joy... the hope of the gospel. We are patient even if things seem to be against us. We find the constant exercise of prayer strengthening so that God’s love is bigger than the disruption of any trial (Romans 12:12).

And Christians continue to care well for each other especially in trial. It looks like there will be the need to do so ahead as economies stay uncertain (they really always are, we just trust in them too much). There should be nobody needy among us, as we love each other through sharing resources and finances. We open our homes and our lives to each other freely (Romans 12:13). And in that Christian life together, Jesus lives with us and in us.