Love each other with genuine affection,

and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:10 NLT

This letter Paul wrote is to a church. I wonder how his gentle words sit with me in my church, where I only sit with people I know, where I walk past a stranger, where I honour the speaker or the bass player...

Paul is gently asking me to look at my heart.

To love with genuine affection is a heart thing, that finds its expression on my face, in my touch, in my words, and in my actions towards others.

Genuine affection must have an expression.

We're not great at honouring. It's either over-the-top honouring of a leader or upfront person, or zero.

I wonder what honouring one another could look like if Paul was writing to me and my church?

Maybe it would be honouring to you if I ensured that church felt safe for you.

That I made you feel welcome. That unless you want to, you aren't sitting on your own.

That I really am interested in you, glad that you're here. How could I do that?

That I'd listen.

That I'd be happy that we're here together to meet with Jesus, to worship God, and that no matter what our story or background, that makes us whanau. 

We're in this together. 

That as an image bearer of God, you have immeasurable worth, and I see that in you.

Maybe Paul would say something like that to me...

#romans

#romans12

#loveoneanother