Romans 12:9

If a man receives a new set of woodworking tools as a gift, but does not know how to use them properly he will make lopsided birdhouses and other poorly constructed projects. But an expert carpenter will know how to use his new tools to make many beautiful and useful items. God has given every believer at least one spiritual gift. But merely knowing what your gifts are and exercising them is not enough. We must always remember that the only right way to serve the Lord and others is to do so in genuine Christian love. Find out more from Dr. Donald Barnhouse.

Romans 12:9

The Bible declares that God is love and stresses the preeminance of love in the Christian life. Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and an indispensible virtue in the life of every believer. But do you realize that hatred is just as much an attribute of God and just as much a Christian virtue as love is. God's perfect character demands a holy hatred of every manifestation of sin and evil. And if we are to reflect the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must hate that which is evil and which stands opposed to His holiness and righteousness.

Romans 12:9

In football, an elusive running back can make the other team's defense look foolish as he constantly slips from their grasp. The defense must pursue the runner, lay a hold of him, and tenaciously hold fast until they tackle him. In the Christian life, genuine goodness can be very elusive and difficult to maintain. We must learn to continually reject sin and evil and cling tenaciously to what is good in order to grow in our relationship with the Lord. Do you put love and goodness in action as a committed disciple of Jesus Christ?