“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10 NLT).
In Romans 12, Paul described how those who have offered their bodies as a living sacrifice and have received a transformed mind that knows God’s will, should live with each other. In verse 10, Paul gave two marks of how people with this new heart and new mind are to live with each other in this new community of believers. The two marks are love and honor. These two marks might be considered as summary of how believers are to feel (“love”) and think (“honor”) towards one another. The members of this new community are to love each other with “genuine” or brotherly affection, as members of God’s family. They are to feel towards one another like a loving family. As they come together, they are to “delight in honoring each other,” esteeming each other as better than themselves.
This new community of members who love and honor each other is the body of Christ, which is the church. They feel and think towards each other as the Spirit within enables them. When the members of Christ’s body come together loving and honoring one another, every member is edified and built up. And outsiders are attracted to know more about Jesus. For as He said, “They will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Has your heart and mind been so transformed that you love and honor one another?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for saving us and adopting us into Your family. Now continue to work in our hearts and minds to sanctify and transform us, so that we love and honor one another as You have commanded. In Jesus’ name, amen.