A Love to Live By

Zack Pratt
May 26^th, 2024
Romans 12, Revelation 2

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:9-21

Infatuation- a short term passion or admiration of something or someone.

We want the

of following God without

Reveal Answer

with Him.

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. ³ I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. ⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” —Revelation 2:2-5

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little. This is true of our faith in God, we can settle for less than what Jesus offers us.” —Thomas Merton

There is no such thing as a

Christian.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” —Clive Staples Lewis

Prayer for the week

God, help me to love you first. Help me to see the world and people the way you do. I want intimacy with you, will you help me remember what you’ve done for me. Holy Spirit, convict me of any area of my life that is not of you. I know you want an utterly clean vessel to use, clear out any thoughts and practices that aren’t honoring you or those around me. Jesus, lead me to yourself in every step I take today. Let the overflow of your love for me be expressed in my life. I need more of you and less of me. Convince me that your word is true and that your love is better than life.