What is Abide? | Listen to this Episode

This week’s Abide episode comes from the passage in the Our Daily Bread devotional from Monday the 5th of August, which is Romans 12:9-18.

Living in harmony with one another. We hear about it. We read about it. If you grew up with siblings it was probably something your parents longed for! It sounds like a great idea, but what does it really mean to live in harmony with one another?

If you have your Bibles let’s turn to Romans 12, reading verses 9 through 18 out of the NIV:

Love in Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I don’t know about you, but when it came to playing games with my siblings growing up, it would usually end in a fight with my little brother and pulling toys off of each other, screaming at the top of our lungs – consequently, our mum cam running into the room to tell us to play nice.

And while the Bible addresses how we ought to treat one another, God is not just talking about those we are close with. Here Paul addresses how we ought to live in harmony and put love into action with everyone, as he writes in verse 18. That’s anyone we come into contact with, even those who persecute us, as he urges in verse 14.

In this passage Paul addresses all kinds of things that will impact the way we live and love one another. He addresses devotion, honour, laziness, service, joy, hope, patience, affliction, prayer, generosity, hospitality, persecution, rejoicing, mourning, pride, humility, revenge, right living, peace, and even more. There’s a lot here!

Take a moment and let this passage sink it. Envision what a life would look like if we practised love in action using this passage we have just read.

What words or sentences are sticking out to you the most? For me, I can recall a time when I perhaps let loving someone else be conditional. In order for me to feel we can get along, I wanted them to accept my views over a situation rather than me accepting that they may see things differently.

Paul offers six instructions for maintaining the kind of community that Paul envisions. Let’s focus on verses 10 through 11 and verse 16.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. (Romans 12:10-11)

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. (Romans 12:16)

Let these words sink in once again. In verse 16 it says: “but willing to associate with people of low position.” Paul’s wording doesn’t necessarily mean people who are actually of low position by life circumstances, but the people who we think of as being in a low position in our minds. Paul’s main point is that we shouldn’t be too proud to live with anyone, even if we think they are “below” us in some way.

If you are able to today, why not sit with this passage for a little longer? Even spend the week reflecting on more of what it says and how it relates to your life. Who comes to mind when you read it? Is the Lord calling us to act differently so we can live in harmony with each other?

I’ll be the first to admit, it can be hard to love in action. But when we cling to what is good and allow God’s Word to overflow from us, we already are making a step to refrain from what is evil. Remember we have a perfect Almighty and powerful Saviour who is helping us love and serve others, even when it is hard to do so.