Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

There are all kinds of people and movements who are intent on dividing everyone and that problem is also affecting the church. Instead we are called to be devoted to each other, to honor each other selflessly.

Have you seen a recent example of devoted love? In just a couple of minutes I came up with at least three real life illustrations. You can see it in the love of parents for their children, between a husband and wife and in the lives of friends. In the verse above, Paul encourages us to be examples of sacrificial love for others. He echoes the words of Christ

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”(John 13:34-35).

The second sentence speaks of honoring others. I like the way John Piper describes honor – it “means you love to honor more than you love to be honored. You enjoy elevating others to honor more than you enjoy being elevated to honor. So don’t be giving energy to how you can be honored, but how you can honor. Put to death the craving for honor. Cultivate the love of honoring others.”

Loving and honoring others means more than saying just the right things. As we all know, words ring hollow when there is no action that follows. So, how would someone else evaluate your (mine too) devotion and honor of others?