Last week in Romans 12:12 we focused on what genuine love for one another looks like in regards to hope, suffering and prayer. In verses 13-15, love gets practical and challenging with regards to how we spend our money and resources, how we respond to those persecuting us, and how we empathize with one another in grief and celebration.

The Father's adoption of us as His sons and daughters means that we belong to Him. But that is not the only relationship of belonging that defines our new life in Christ. Paul makes a striking statement in Romans 12:5 that we are "individually members one of another. What this means is that we not only belong to God, but we also belong to EACH OTHER. And just as our response to the initiating love of God is to love in return, our response to His work in one another is also love. What does this love look like? In verses 12-15 of Romans 12, it looks like people who rejoice, endure and pray with one another. It looks like sharing freely the material blessings that God has given us with others. It looks like blessing those opposing us, and maybe hardest of all, entering into the deepest joys and pains of one another.

It is stunning and challenging to see how Paul calls our new hearts to a fervent and costly love for each other. He wants us to sprint from evil and glue ourselves to good!