This post is Day 15 in a series of studies about “A Living Sacrifice”, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

A Living Sacrifice – Day 15

Love must be sincere. That phrase seems obvious; it would not be love if it was not sincere. Would it? By definition love must be real! It is almost too easy to tell somebody we love them, without really considering what that means. Often we use that expression without thinking.

Romans 12:9

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

The Thought

This first phrase here seems obvious; it wouldn’t be love if it wasn’t sincere. Would it? By definition love must be real! It is almost too easy to say to somebody that we love them, without really considering what that means. Often we use that expression without thinking.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives a long definition of what love really is. Read it slowly and allow yourself to be challenged by it. Think of those you love and those you don’t love quite so much as you ought!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

The only person I know who has really fulfilled this definition is Jesus! He gave His all for you and me, asking us to follow Him who was truly a living sacrifice.

He also fulfilled the second part of today’s verse hating thoroughly everything evil, and clinging totally to His Father God whose nature is thoroughly good.

Action

Pray for yourself today and ask the Lord to reveal to you any relationships where you are not as loving as He would want you to be. Ask Him to help you improve that situation.

Ask yourself if you really hate what is evil. Much of what is happening in our world today is evil, originating in the pit of hell and being propagated by much of the news media. Pray for discernment for yourself and those you love, so that we can all see the difference.