NELSON NOLAND
The twelfth chapter of Romans describes what Christian life should look like after receiving God’s mercy. Paul begins his letter by describing how God rescues us through grace. Then, in the later chapters, he explains that those who have been rescued are called to live as rescuers. People who take the mercy they have received should pass it on to others.
Faith, according to Paul, is not a feeling that stays inside. It is something that moves from the heart into real action. Love begins as compassion but must grow into care that can be seen and felt. The goal is not to appear spiritual or sound religious, but to live with genuine love that expresses itself in daily life.
From Rescue to Responsibility
Paul teaches that God’s mercy is never meant to stop with us. When we have experienced His forgiveness and kindness, we are to let that same mercy flow through us toward others. You could think of it as God recycling our pain and past struggles into compassion for people who face similar difficulties. If you have been encouraged, you can now encourage others. If you have been comforted, you can now comfort others. God uses the things that once hurt us to make us more useful to others. Isn’t this what it means to live out the gospel?
Christianity is not just about believing the right things. It is about behaving in a way that shows what we believe. The world does not need more people who can talk about faith; it needs people who can live it.
Caring Through Generosity
Paul begins this section with a simple instruction: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Caring for others begins with generosity. Faith is not meant to be passive; it must take action.
I hope this doesn’t seem repetitive: To care is to give. It is to offer our time, our resources, and our presence to others. I hope to drive the point home here. Christians are not called to consume what the church provides; they are called to contribute to its mission. The original word Paul uses, koinonia, means partnership. It describes believers working side by side, sharing what they have for the sake of others. Our generosity reveals the condition of our heart. A healthy church is one where people are quick to share and slow to hoard. Hospitality, in particular, is a powerful form of generosity. Opening one’s home is an act of love that says, “You belong here.”
Hospitality also reaches beyond comfort zones. It means showing kindness to people who are different from us. Real love does not stop at the people we know. It crosses boundaries. And this is exactly what Jesus did. He came to those who were far away, not to those who already knew Him. He pursued people who were lost and hurting. In the same way, believers are to reach out, not wait to be asked. Love takes the first step.
Acting with Grace
After speaking about generosity, Paul moves to a harder subject: responding with grace to those who treat us badly. He writes, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
This command challenges the natural human reaction. The world teaches us to get even. Grace teaches us to let go. When someone wrongs us, the easy response is anger or revenge. But Paul reminds us that Christians live by a different standard. We do not fight evil with evil; we answer it with good.
To bless someone means to speak well of them, to pray for them, and to wish them good rather than harm. This requires strength that only God can provide. It is not weakness to forgive; it takes deep courage.
Jesus lived this out perfectly. When He was insulted and beaten, He did not respond with hatred. Instead, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Stephen, one of the first followers of Jesus, did the same when he was killed for his faith. He asked God to forgive his attackers. In this we see that grace is not just an idea. And when we refuse to take revenge, we trust God to handle justice. We make space for His work instead of trying to control outcomes ourselves. Grace allows us to live in peace even when we are treated unfairly.
Sharing in Joy and Sorrow
Paul then writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” When someone experiences success or happiness, love celebrates with them. When someone is grieving or struggling, love does not turn away, it sits beside them and shares the pain. There is an old saying: “A joy shared is a joy doubled, and a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved.” When believers share one another’s experiences, the church becomes more than an organization, it becomes a family.
Seeing People Through God’s Eyes
Caring for others often means stepping toward people the world overlooks. A mature believer learns not to chase influence but to look for those who are missing. Every person you meet carries eternal value. There are no small lives in the eyes of God. When we see people as image-bearers of their Creator, we no longer treat them as interruptions or burdens. We see them as opportunities to reflect Christ’s love. We are called to run toward people in need, not away from them.
The Work of Restoration
Part of our calling as the church is to make broken lives whole again. This does not mean fixing people on our own but helping them encounter the One who can. A caring church is not focused on fame or influence. It looks for those who need love and welcomes them. It replaces pride with service, and judgment with compassion. It remembers that no one is too far gone for grace.
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