Love in Action;
Romans 12:9-21
Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Not long the float of Day is stayed
In time’s ephemeral parade
The audience of Now and Here
In ash and dust will disappear
Not long to leave a life behind
Or toil the harvest’s sheaves to bind
Or prove by speech and action’s verve
The God we have chosen to serve
Not long to make the Soul secure
To make Calling’s election sure
Before we leave this groaning place
To meet our Maker Face to face
Not long to thwart the darts of sin
Or bring the bleeding harvest in
Oh, darling sojourner of sod
Not long to prepare to meet God
Not long to put love into deed
And cultivate the fallen seed
To pay close heed to where seeds fell
Not long to guard and tend them well
Not long to train the little tot
Of what is right and what is not
Not long to be gentle and kind
Until we leave this life behind
Not long to suffer for love's cause
Without the buffer of applause
Not long until the Name that saves
Will open long forgotten graves
Not long to watch the darkness fade
Not long the float of day is stayed
Not long the mind of man is tried
Not long the guilty clan can hide
2 Cor.6:2
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.