I've long loved the athletic life and rarely feel more alive than when exercising at the peak of my abilities. For years, I studied training techniques and nutrition, quietly hoping that I might actually win a race (which never happened!). 

In my reading, I couldn't help but notice that good training advice is specific. It doesn't deal in generalities like "Relax!" or "Stay loose." Instead it says things like "Do ten, two-minute intervals at 80% of max heart rate with a two-minute recovery between each." These very specific instructions help the athlete maximize the effect of his or her training. 

Very much the same is true with Paul's letter to people in Rome seeking to live after the pattern of Jesus. In Romans 12:9-21, he offers very specific ideas for how to express Christ-like love: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (12:15), or "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (12:18). 

Of course, this does not endorse tolerating abusive strategies or dysfunctional relationships, but it does mean to think about and to help meet others' genuine needs, including those we might consider our "enemy."

The main point of this section of Paul's writing is that genuine love is not simply being nice to people. It has a moral orientation toward the good revealed through specific, often counter-intuitive, behavior. When we show love toward someone (regardless of what they show to us), we move ourselves and them toward God's goodness. To love someone is not simply to cater to specific likes and dislikes of that person. It is rather to act toward them in ways usher more of God's goodness into our shared life.

It's not an easy teaching, but it is powerful. We'll explore it in depth this weekend as we finish up our series on "Why I'm Christian." We'll also have baptisms, children's choirs and youth choirs across our many services.

Join us and bring a friend. I'm confident you'll be glad you did.

Warmly,