"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another."
Romans 12:10
Part 1
Today: People and My Affections
How does your heart deal with people? I often think about my affections only in terms of me, what I like, and what I want. But how should I think about others and relate to them? The question is, how do people really rate in my affections? Thankfully, the Apostle Paul has something to teach us about that. In Romans 12:9-21, he turns the light on to how the genuine believer acts and responds toward others and the Lord. It turns out that how we think about and relate with people says much about our maturity in Christ. He starts with the idea that our love is never to be faked or hypocritical! (v. 9). We are to hate evil and hang on to what is good. And then Paul shows us how to think about others.
“Be kindly affectioned.”
Believers are to be thinking kindly about their brothers and sisters in the Lord. In fact, the word “affectioned” comes from two Greek words for love, phileo (brotherly love) and storgos (natural affection).
“…the word kindly gives the real sense, since kind is originally kinned; and kindly affectioned is having the affection of kindred“[1] (Vincent).
We love God’s family that He has adopted us into.
“These things I command you, that ye love one another” (John 15:17).
Other believers are family too.
“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints” (Colossians 1:3-4).
We may not stop loving each other. To do so will not please our Lord!
“Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1).
We must think alike as a family of believers.
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8).
How can we be sure that we are honoring each other the way Paul says? Come back, and let’s talk more tomorrow!
Quote: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, ESV).
[1] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. Romans 12:10.