GOD'S FAMILY TRADEMARK
Romans 12:9-13
I was a bit shaky when I was seeking the right word for the title of this morning's message.
I never did decide if a family could have a trademark.
So I looked up the definition of “trademark.”
After I found the definition, it was too good to pass up!
It doesn’t matter whether a family can have a trademark or not, it’s the right message!
What’s a trademark? "The name, symbol, figure, letter, word, or mark adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant to designate the goods he manufactures or sells, and to distinguish them from those manufactured and sold by others."
What’s the mark God uses to designate those He has made and to distinguish them from others?
What characteristic distinguishes God’s children from those around us?
Jn 13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"
Rom: SINCE GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR US, as seen in first chs., WE OUGHT TO SHOW THE SAME KIND OF LOVE TO OTHERS–towards God’s other children, He also loves.
Paul has been describing what our logical response to God’s love ought to be:
Besides committing our life to God and living for Him,
seeing ourselves from a new perspective, and
dedicating ourselves to serving Him enthusiastically,
another logical response is a new lifestyle.
As God’s children we become known for certain "habits of holiness."
Love for God’s family is one of the habits that marks this new lifestyle.
CALL TO GENUINE LOVE 12:9
Love found among God's people ought to be different than that found in the world.
The world knows and practices TWO KINDS OF LOVE:
Erotic "love"–really isn't love at all.
It’s a reaction to physical attraction between two people.
Fraternal love—better than first kind.
But it’s still reciprocal love.
We love them because they love us, or we see something attractive.
God's love is different.
Rom 5:8: God shows His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
God's love goes on without regard for how the other person responds.
Love expressed even when the person loved rejects or mistreats us.
God loves us because He chose to love us!
That's how He wants us to love each other–we CHOOSE to love others, regardless of merit!.
GOD'S LOVE FOR US DEMANDS THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER
God’s kind of love can't be faked.–it’s the real thing!
It’s genuine, without any shade of hypocrisy.
Lit., it doesn’t “wear a mask”
Not easy love to practice because our culture encourages us to maintain an image. “Image is everything.”–it’s all about the mask we wear!
Entertainment depicts people pretending to be something they’re not.
We have a tendency to put on a mask–fake a love we don’t really have.
We smile, when we really feel like screaming at someone!
Kent Hughes: We smile at the police officer handing us a ticket, while on the inside we’re saying, “May your days be filled with traffic jams!!!”
We deceive ourselves into thinking we care about people we don’t even like!
In 1 Tim., Paul calls us to a "love which comes from a pure heart" (1 Tim. 1:5).
Peter exhorts us to love one another "fervently," "from the heart" (1 Pet. 1:22).
We’re to have a sincere love for one another—no faking it! No hypocrisy.
Real love isn’t based on emotions.
It’s not something you feel. It’s not just feelings
It is realistic.
If it’s authentic, it isn’t afraid to take a serious look at reality–see things as they are!
That means looking at one another
being honest with one another
helping each other become all that God wants us to be.
When reality sets in–when you realize what the person you love is really like–warts and all–then,
That authentic love will be accompanied by TWO RELATED HABITS:
Rejecting what’s evil Clinging to what’s good.
This isn’t a call to hate the person!
It’s a call to seek what’s best for them–to help them become all that God want’s them to be–To shed what’s harmful and cling to what’s good!
1 Cor 13:6
This is a love based on truth.
It’s a love which seeks the welfare of the person loved.
It doesn't try to hide reality in order to please others.
It isn’t love that’s soft on evil!
We love each other too much to allow another person to go on doing something that will ultimately harm them, or destroy their life.
Such love seeks what’s in the other person's best interest in the long run, even though it may hurt a bit temporarily.
J. Vernon McGee: “There are too many Mr. Milquetoasts and Priscilla Goodbodies, these sweet folks who haven’t the intestinal fortitude to stand for that which is honorable.”
We need people who care about one another enough to speak the truth in love–but encourage those we love to abandon what will ultimately destroy them and to develop what’s good for them!
Authentic love forces us to reject what’s bad and cling to what’s good.
As we love people genuinely, we reject what’s wrong and cling to what’s best for them, so that they will become all God wants them to be.
Our English text looks like a disjointed list of commands–sent rapid-fire, one after another.
Original text displays well thought-out patterns that can’t be adequately captured in English.
They unite entire section under the initial exhortation to love one another authentically
These commands show us what authentic love looks like in real life!
DEMONSTRATIONS OF GENUINE LOVE 12:10-13
9 SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE LOVE SHOWS ITSELF.
These 9 areas are set out by a [hidden] parallel construction.
Each introduced by "concerning ..." or “as it relates to . . .”=> “in . . . ”
All of these exhortations are structurally tied back to the exhortation to love each other sincerely.
While this section appears to be a disjointed grocery list of commands,
they are areas where love shows itself in practical attitudes and actions.
What should authentic love for one another look like in our life?
GENUINE LOVE IS SHOWN BY PRACTICAL ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS
1) 10a “As it relates to brotherly love, show affection for one another
Members of the body of Christ are members of a family.
The devil likes to deceive us into believing we can stand alone. We live in an epoch of “rugged individualists.
“We don’t need nobody!” “We’re strong. We just have to hang tough!”
C.S. Lewis: “When I first became a Christian, ... I thought I could do it on my own, by retiring to my room and reading theology, I wouldn’t go to churches and Gospel Halls; ... I disliked their hymns, which I considered to be 5th-rate poems set to 6th rate music. But as I went on I saw the merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education; gradually my conceit began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just 6th rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots.”
Since no one is a whole, independent, self-sufficient, super-capable, all-powerful hotshot, we have to quit trying to play the lone ranger!
NO PLACE FOR ISLANDS (Swindoll, Come before Winter, p. 116)
Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. –take away one link and the chain is broken.
Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. –take away one player and the game is forfeited.
Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. –take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete.
Nobody is a whole play. Each one is an actor. –take away one actor and the performance suffers. . . .
Cars are composed of numerous parts. Each one is connected to and dependent upon the other. Even a tiny screw, if it comes loose and falls out of the carburetor, can bring the whole vehicle to a stop.
We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands we're not.
For the church to do its thing, we must work together as a team, as a family. Diverse, —yet still one family!
This attitude is driving force behind other commands: We’re family!
DEMONSTRATE AFFECTION–show love–to one another
Remember how you used to fight with your brother or sister and then defend them before anyone else?
A while back I watched 2 sisters having a bit of a conflict.
But if you’re not part of their family you’d better watch out if you think you’re going to hurt one of them.
Families stick together!
We need to stick together as members of GOD’S family.
We can do without the family spats!
But we need to care about each other, and let people know we care!
God plans for His family to stick together
We ought to be the most caring group of people on earth!
Drama/opp. to invite people to lunch/our greeting time–all opps. to show we care!
We ought to be known for our care for one another—we’re family!
Be devoted to one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ, as family!
Lisa Barkman: "People who live isolated lives and have few social contacts are two to four times more likely to succumb to one of four major causes of death--heart disease, cancer, accidents, suicide--than are those who have a lot of friends, belong to social or religious groups, or have a large family."
We HAVE a large family! Do we experience that reality in our daily lives?
Or will we live and die in isolation from the rest of our family in Christ?
2) 10b As it relates to honor, give preference to one another
Instead of elevating ourselves, acknowledge the value of others.
Treat others as more important than ourselves.
This is as rare in Paul’s day as in our “Look out for # 1!” mentality.
It requires a renewed mind, that understands the will of God.
We’ll never do it in the flesh–by our best efforts–the Spirit of God has to produce this attitude
Phil 2:3-4: We should not seek glory for ourselves; but in humility consider others as more important than ourselves.
It’s normal for people to seek something for themselves.
We’re always asking, “What’s in it for ME?”
We want to do something for OURSELVES!
Jesus has a fresh message for the “me-generation.” It’s found in SERVING others.
Stop trying to get credit for what God has done; give Him glory first, then praise others.
Instead of always trying to come out on top, watch out for the interests of others.
Old fable tells about a little frog who was startled when he looked up and saw an ox drinking out of the pond. He had never seen such a huge creature. Immediately he hopped away to tell his grandfather. No one should seem larger in the eyes of his grandson than he, so the old bullfrog began to puff himself up. "Was he bigger than this?" "Oh, yes, Grandfather," answered the little frog, "much larger." He inflated himself more. "Bigger than this?" "Lots bigger!" replied the grandson. The old frog continued to puff until he exploded.
There’s a big difference between sense of our God-given worth as His handiwork–we saw last week–and an ego inflated by pride.
3) 11a As it relates to zeal, diligently show your concern for one another –not lagging behind [Don’t drag your feet!]–lacking zeal for one another!
This enthusiasm has to do with family relationships.
Amplifies love we ought to have for members of the family.
It’s love’s energetic expression.
We ought not be lazy; Never lacking in our concern for one another
Ministering to the body of Christ consumes a lot of energy!
That’s why Paul exhorts us not to lose our zeal.
4) 11b As it relates to our attitude, get excited about belonging to the family!Being fervent–enthusiasticLiterally, "boiling" or "effervescent"
We should be "bubbling over" with enthusiasm to demonstrate love for others
Excited about being God’s child, about being part of the family.
Enthusiastic about one another–about being together
5) 11c As it relates to the Lord Himself, serve Him together
Authentic love ought to motivate us to serve Him continuously.
6) 12a As it relates to our hope, rejoice together about it
We rejoice because our hope promises blessing, but also because fellowship we enjoy now is only a sample of what we’ll enjoy when we’re with Christ.
Love causes us to rejoice together as we think about our future.
We rejoice in our hope, even in hard times.
Key question: “What will this look like from the perspective of eternity?”
7) 12b As it relates to suffering, endure it patiently
Genuine love helps us endure affliction patiently.
Enduring the affliction together–comforting and encouraging one another.
Rather than lashing out at others (Cp. James)
Never give up because of the troubles we may be going through.
When we’ve had “one of those days” do we respond graciously, showing love to those around us, or are we short-tempered and angry?
Ability to endure suffering often comes from encouragement of others who love us and urge us to go on.
Brother I met years ago had three daughters who were in and out of the hospital continually. The youngest daughter was nearly three and had spent more time at hospital than at home. His wife “lived” at hospital. He told me repeatedly how great a blessing encouragement of brothers and sisters who loved him was. I watched him encourage others also. It’s a mutual encouragement.
8) 12c As it relates to prayer, commit yourself to pray constantly for one another.
Genuine love causes us to be constant in prayer—always pray!
As we become involved in lives of others, we become aware of many needs that cause us to pray continuously for them.
9) 13 As it relates to the needs of others, share with them . . .
Knowledge of others' needs motivates us to share what we have
"koinonia"—word for fellowship—share with others what God has given us.
Acts 4:32-37 members of early church gave what they had to help others in need.
. . . and seek opportunities to help them
One way of sharing with those in need is through hospitality, that is, “love for the foreigner/stranger,” –someone they don’t know
Do we look for opps. to meet new people or do we avoid them?
Our love for God and His people should motivate us to help others in need, even though we know we may never be repaid.
Genuine love causes us to show hospitality, not only when opportunity knocks; we should seek it–“search everywhere!
God’s people should be generous people!
We should be known for sharing what He has given us with others.
We should be known for reaching out in love to people in need –even people we don’t know!
Our deacons’s fund (=low balance!)
Risk in this type of message.
Check list of commands that focus our attention on loving one another— showing genuine affection–that we care for one another like family.
But it’s a list of things to do.
It’d be easy to get lost in abstract ideas, or in shear quantity of “things to do.”Self-test for self-evaluationTalk about a “honey-do list!”
We could easily get so bogged down in details that we miss the main point.
Paul’s big idea is that we ought to care for one another as a family.
We should never hear objective criticism that our church is “cold,” or we don’t care about one another.
If God cares so much for us, we should care about each other!
We should be reaching out to each other in genuine, sincere love.
Authentic love motivates us to look for ways we can help others.
It will take us our entire lifetime to totally put ALL these into practice.
What measures does God want you to take to correct the deficiencies in your life?
What has God been talking to YOU about this morning?
Do you need to go to someone and tell them you care about them?