Be Steadfast in the Spirit

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

Believe God's Love

Romans 12:9-19 The Message

^9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
^14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
^17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

For Reflection

 I am firmly convinced that the spirit of God shines in a person in ways that others can see (even if not cognatively) one's competence, fairness and trustworthiness.  Those in the Spirit seem to have an attractive aura.  It is not so much the theology you follow or how learned you are.  It is the way one carries one's self.  It is the way one responds to life circumstances.  It is supreme confidence in the fact that God will make all things right.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for the spirit who resides within you.  Pray for steadfast loyalty to the One God.  Pray for the courage to face life knowing that your faith will bring out the opposition to hate you.  Pray for the love that displaces all hate.