Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV)
Read Romans 12:9-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; Verse 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Verse 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Verse 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Verse 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Verse 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Verse 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Verse 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Verse 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Verse 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Verse 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Verse 20No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Verse 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Devotion
For confirmation, I invite our students to respond to the prompt: This I Believe. I stress to them that they are not affirming that they understand and own everything about their faith. I tell them that people who think they have all the answers are kind of scary, that I hope the gospel has captured them and that they understand faith as a lifelong journey that continually gives way to mystery.
This is the perspective in which I hear Paul’s words to the Romans. They are a description and an invitation to Christian community. This is who we as a faith community seek to be. Have we arrived yet? No. Will we ever fully arrive? Not this side of eternity. Nevertheless, is it a journey we want to be on and ask God‘s help to grow in? I hope we, with the confirmands, are moved to say, “Yes.”
Prayer
Guiding One, shape us to live in community the way you have set before us. Amen.