Don't Just Pretend to Love

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

—Romans 12:9 (NLT)

Loving LORD GOD,

With Christ as my example, teach me to love others in Spirit and in Truth—hating what is wrong, and holding tightly to what is good.

Keep me from the hypocrisy of only pretending to love others—from “loving” others out of impure motives that falsely promise to serve me well, but in the end leave me empty and far from You.

Out of a grateful heart for Your love for me, help me to love others as You do—with complete selflessness—putting the needs of others before my own selfish wants and desires, so that they might see Your love for them through me.

Like Christ, help me to fight passionately against all wrong—wherever it may raise its ugly head—by always speaking truth, always giving grace, and always walking in His perfect love.

And help me to hold tightly to what is good—help me to cling to You—knowing You are the source of all things good.

With Christ as my example, teach me to love others in Spirit and in Truth—hating what is wrong, and holding tightly to what is good.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Gently and Humbly

 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.  They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. 

—Titus 1:2-3 (NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me to take seriously my responsibility to remind and encourage myself, first—but also my fellow believers—in acts of obedience, goodness, truth, peace, gentleness, and humility.

Your Word commands me to submit to those in authority over me—unless doing so would violate Your commands.

Your Word commands me to be obedient—especially to Your Word and Your Spirit—and to be ready to do that which is good.

Your Word commands me to never slander anyone and to avoid quarreling—to speak only truth, with grace, in love.

Your Word commands me to be gentle with others, and to show true humility to everyone—not thinking more highly of myself than I ought to, but living within the truth of who I am in Christ, and with the knowledge that any good in me comes from You.

Help me to take seriously my responsibility to encourage myself, first—but also my fellow believers—in acts of obedience, goodness, truth, peace, gentleness, and humility.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.