Friday, April 13, 2018

Hope: a Symptom of Authentic Faith

9 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.
Many of us claim to be followers of Christ. As we any claim, it is wise for us to stop from time to time and look at the evidence - how we think, act, and speak. This passage is one such evaluation sheet.  Love is much more than words; it is actions.  Purity is not just walking away from evil; it is running away from it.  Showing honor is not just a formality; it is how we speak to and about one another. Serving God is not mundane; it is vibrant worship.  Praying is more than saying we will do it.  Giving is not to be done "under restraint", but an act we seek out and show lavishly. And we are to have a joyful hope - anticipating that God will do the good things He has promised, which causes us to overflow in joy.  Does that describe your morning? Your day? Your life? May love, and all these others characteristics, be real in our lives today. 

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