“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
Have you ever gone on a long hike with a group of people? It’s not always easy to do. If each of you were walking the trail on your own, you’d all walk at very different paces. Some would stroll. Others would almost jog. But when you walk together, everyone adjusts – or divides.
To live as Jesus does, to live as a true Christian, means to say, “I’m going to give up the right to set the pace for my own life.” It means being willing to slow down or speed up to meet the needs of brothers and sisters from different mothers but the same Father.
It’s hard to do.
To get specific, this devotion to family means more than just being willing to show up when there’s trouble. It means being willing to treat other believers like they outrank me, like we’re not equals. It’s means I’m willing to talk about what they want to talk about, to listen to their music, to go to their restaurant, to wait, to adjust, to help, to defer, to die.
If we all do it, it’s beautiful. It’s the point of church. If I’m the only one doing it, it’s beautiful. It’s the path of Jesus.
Think: How did Jesus honor others above himself? How do you?
Pray: Ask God to help you to be devoted to other Christians in brotherly love and to honor them above yourself.
Do: Write a quick list of three Christians who really seem to honor you above themselves.