Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, 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 think you are superior. 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. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21 (TNIV)

Here Paul continues to flesh out what the Christian life looks like. We are to look out for each other, care for one another, resist the temptation to return tit-for-tat when we are wronged by others. We are to hate evil (not evil people). We are to meet people where they are. If they are hurting, we should hurt for and with them. If they are happy, we should by happy for and with them. Notice that in doing this, we are demonstrating our love for the other because we desire the best for them.

And why should we lead this kind of life? Because of the inexpressible gift of salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. This is faith in action. If we really do not believe that God has done the impossible for us in Christ, we will really not have any good reason to try to behave in these ways. Instead, because we are fallen, we will invariably tend to make it all about us, baby.

But when our faith speaks to us in a real way, we understand that we have been rescued from darkness and death and delivered into the Kingdom of Light. It is not our doing. It is God’s doing. Behaving as Christian does not ensure our salvation. Jesus Christ does. We simply behave as if we believe it.

Everyone must make time both to seek the truth through contemplation and perform the actions that charity demands. No one should be so committed to contemplation as to give no thought to the needs of their neighbors. On the other hand, no one should be so absorbed in action as to give up contemplating God. The desire for contemplation should not end up as empty-headed leisure but be dedicated to the discovery of truth both for one’s sake and in order to share it with others.

—Augustine, City of God 19.19

Let us leave a little room for reflection, room too for silence. Enter into yourself and leave behind all noise and confusion. Look within yourself. See whether you can find some delightful hidden place in your consciousness, a place free of noise and argument where you need not be carrying on your disputes and planning to have your own stubborn way. Hear the word of God in stillness. Perhaps then you will understand it.

—Augustine, Sermon 52.22

Am I a Soldier of the Cross

Am I a soldier of the cross,
a follower of the Lamb,
and shall I fear to own his cause,
or blush to speak his name?

Must I be carried to the skies
on flowery beds of ease,
while others fought to win the prize,
and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
to help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
supported by thy word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
shall conquer though they die;
they see the triumph from afar,
by faith they bring it nigh.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
and all thy armies shine
in robes of victory through the skies,
the glory shall be thine.

Isaac Watts, 511

May it please you that in the sight of your mercy I may find grace before you, so that to me as I knock may be opened the hidden meaning of your words. I make my prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. By him you sought us when we were not seeking you. But you sought us that we should seek you, your Word by whom you have called to adoption the people who believe.

—Confessions 11.2.4