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Romans 12: 9-11

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit serving the Lord..."

These couple of verses seem practical and no nonsense. They offer us a center to which to bring our attitude and lifestyle in line. The verses leading up to this talk about being part of the body of Christ and each of us having different gifts. And, despite our differences, whatever our gifts are, we are to do them extravagantly and with the gift of faith God has given us.

So here in verse nine, it's about love. Good love and good living. We are all brought together in these verses and put on the same page: don't say you're a lover with your mouth, and live like a jerk (you know, be rude to waiters and your family and stuff like that...). With everything in you, run like the wind from evil (it's all around us), and fall into the arms of all that is good about the world and humanity. Think about the needs of other's before your own. If you have to decide between you and them, give it to them. Love people with grace and affection in your hearts and bodies. Be passionate in your heart for life and the world and people, and mostly, above all, love the Lord with a fierce determination in your heart, soul and body. Read the chapter that surrounds these verses, you will be enriched!