A Broke Evangelist

December 9, 2024

Romans 12:9-13

Relating to the Christian Family

“9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 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.”

A lot of breaking news today: a hunted killer suspect was apprehended after a few days on the run, and a Good Samaritan on trial for murder was acquitted. Watching the world’s reaction feels like stepping into a whirlwind of confusion. On one hand, some are protesting the acquittal, claiming the accused man committed murder by choking out a subway assailant who was threatening passengers, allegedly motivated by the assailant’s race (the assailant was Black). On the other hand, people with similar political leanings are celebrating the actions of a cold-blooded killer who assassinated an insurance company executive in New York City. They’re framing the act as justified revenge against “greedy insurance companies” that exploit people.

Meanwhile, the media seems baffled by the lack of riots over the verdict. They’ve been busy trying to portray the subway assailant as a victim—describing him as a “homeless person” or a “Michael Jackson impersonator” and broadcasting smiling photos to paint him as a harmless figure from our daily lives. The truth is, there are few protests because many people are simply fed up with excuses being made for antisocial behavior. Instead of faux outrage over the trial, perhaps the media’s energy could be directed toward the violent act committed by a young man who ambushed an unsuspecting executive walking into a hotel early one morning to prepare for a meeting. Yes, there are valid criticisms of insurance companies, but let’s be real—logic, reason, dialogue, and communication are the right tools for change. Murder is not.

We’re constantly bombarded by conflicting messages, and to make things worse, some who call themselves “pastors” preach nonsense that twists the teachings of Jesus—all in His name! Outrageous, right? With all this noise, it’s no wonder people have such skewed perspectives. Romans 12:1-2 gives us a much-needed reminder: we’re called to be living sacrifices, transformed by the renewing of our minds, and to find our place in God’s purpose for our lives. When our focus is truly on God and His Word, we rise above the chaos. Without that focus, we’re no different from those who find their purpose in complaining about the world’s problems.

Understanding that God’s purpose is the most important thing changes everything. It doesn’t mean we won’t get disturbed or angry about the state of the world—we’re human, after all. But it does mean those feelings won’t derail us from walking the path God has set for us. When our minds are renewed and our hearts aligned with His plan, we’re equipped to be lights in the darkness, pointing others toward His love and truth, no matter what’s happening around us.

Some of the things we can focus on are what we will read about in Romans 12:9-13…

Romans 12:9 – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

If we’re real with ourselves, I think we understand that love with a side of hypocrisy isn’t love at all. It’s like ordering a hot fudge sundae and getting a salad with raisins instead—totally wrong and a bit offensive (although I like raisins in salad, to the offense of others). But a lot of what parades around as “love” in the Christian community has this sneaky hypocrisy lurking in it. You know the type—warm smiles in the church pews but ice-cold stares in the parking lot (actually, I’ve seen cold stares inside when someone tries to sit in a pew when an old lady comes up to them and says, “That’s my spot!”). It could also be the “I love you, brother!” followed by, “But did you see his Facebook post? Bless his heart, he’s struggling.” Hypocrisy and love are like oil and water—they just don’t mix. And when they try, you get a slimy mess that nobody wants to deal with.

I’ve been there…I’ve even used to joke about it when talking about someone. I used to tell people, “I’m not gossiping; I’m discussing things in their life that we need to pray over!”

So, what we can do is be the heroes of authentic love—no need for capes though. Real love doesn’t play favorites or keep score like it’s in some spiritual baseball game (unless my team is better). Real love rolls up its sleeves, gets messy, and loves people even when they’re super annoying—like that guy in Bible study who always has a 30-minute prayer request. Sometimes we need to call it out. Once, when I was a gathering, talking to two other men, when a third came by and shook hands with the other two guys but not me! I said, “Hey what am I, chopped liver?” (yeah, that was the best line I could come up with at the time). It caught him off guard like he couldn’t believe. That was a good night.

Abhorring what is evil and clinging to what is good sounds simple, right? It sounds like a quick two-step dance routine for life: dodge the bad stuff, grab onto the good stuff, and poof, you’re living godly! Except, if we’re real with ourselves—this is one of those instructions that sound easier on paper than it is in real life. It’s like being told, “Just eat healthy and exercise”—great advice, but then, nachos. But most of us are naturally better at one part of this equation than the other. Some of us are pros at abhorring evil. We can spot a bad attitude, a shady situation, or pineapple on pizza from a mile away. But sometimes, in our zeal to hate what’s wrong, we forget to cling to what’s good. We get so busy pointing out every evil that we end up like that one friend who criticizes movies but never actually enjoys them. Meanwhile, life’s goodness is sitting there, waiting to be appreciated.

On the flip side, there are those of us who are all about clinging to what’s good. We’re practically hugging rainbows, dancing in fields of daisies, and searching for unicorns. But when it comes to calling out evil? Uh… we kind of look the other way. Like when someone cuts in line at the grocery store, and we just smile awkwardly, thinking, “Well, maybe they’re in a rush? Bless their heart!” Here’s a tip: they’re not in a rush—they’re just being rude, and they took your spot in line.  One of my favorite shows is an Australian dark comedy called “Mr. In-Between,” where the main character, Ray, is a hitman balancing family and work life (yes, that’s actually the storyline). One of Ray’s flaws is that he tends to beat up people who are rude to him. In one episode, he gets arrested and sentenced to attend an anger management group, where the moderator asks Ray why he beats up people. Ray responds that it’s because they’re jerks (he actually uses a word I can’t repeat here). The moderator tells Ray that the world is full of jerks, to which Ray replies, “Yeah, but if someone punches them when they’re being jerks, they’ll think twice about it before they try it again.”

So, it’s hard to confront people. But, a godly person doesn’t pick one over the other—they do both. It’s like being a spiritual multitasker. Abhorring evil isn’t about being judgmental or mean; it’s about drawing a firm boundary and saying, “Nope, not today, Satan. That’s not coming into my life.” And clinging to what is good isn’t just about puppies (I love puppies though) and rainbows—it’s about holding on tight to the things that truly matter, even when it’s hard, like faith, kindness, and the last slice of pie (if you’ve earned it, of course). The trick is balance. Think of it like driving: you need both the gas and the brakes to get anywhere. Too much abhorring, and you’re just screeching to a halt all the time, leaving no room for grace. Too much clinging to good, and you might speed past the warning signs of trouble. But put them together, and suddenly, you’re cruising in the right direction—toward a life that honors God and loves people.

Time for another story: the last time I was at Disneyland, my daughters were little, and they wanted to ride the Dumbo ride. They stood in line and waited for about twenty minutes to get into one of the little Dumbo cars. Just before they were about to receive their feather (given to each rider as proof they didn’t cut the line), a man and his child showed us exactly why the Dumbo feather system is so important. This guy jumped the little barrier fence with his five-year-old and climbed into one of the Dumbo cars—right in front of me! My kids had been waiting patiently all that time, and this clown thought he could jump the line. Not on my watch! I told him to get his butt out of there, but he just shook his head no. So, I called over one of the ride attendants. Unfortunately, she looked like a high schooler on her first day at her first job and clearly didn’t want to confront him. I told her firmly, “Kick him out, or I’ll talk to your supervisor.” She assured me that if he didn’t have a feather, he wouldn’t be allowed to ride. When the feather-checker came by, sure enough, he didn’t have a feather and was promptly booted from the ride. As luck would have it, he exited through the gate right next to where I was standing, and I made sure to stare him down the entire time. Just before he slinked away in shame, his wife approached me and said, “Thank you!” Wow! I couldn’t help but feel pretty proud of myself after that night. Justice served, one Dumbo car at a time!

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Think of devotion as the glue in our relationships, but not that cheap dollar-store glue that dries out halfway through the job. No, this is the good stuff—industrial-strength super glue that bonds us to people with care, kindness, and a willingness to go the extra mile. It’s saying, “I’m here for you,” not just when it’s convenient, but also when it’s 3 a.m. and we’re low on gas. It means showing up for each other. It’s asking, “How can I help?” instead of, “What’s in it for me?” It’s sharing the last slice of pizza even though we were totally eyeballing it. It’s putting down our phone during a conversation (even if our fantasy football team is tanking). Basically, devotion is about being present, selfless, and consistent—even when it’s hard.

Honoring one another over ourselves sounds tricky because, let’s face it, sometimes we all like to think we’re the star of the show. But this verse is saying, “Step off the stage for a second and let someone else shine.” I used to volunteer as a PA announcer for my daughters’ swimming club whenever the club hosted swim meets. I enjoyed it because I got to sit all day (bonus!) and, honestly, I was pretty good at it. However, there were always others who wanted their turn on the microphone. They would badger the meet director for a chance to sit at the PA announcer table. When the meet director would come up to me and asked me to yield the mike, I’d gladly relinquish my spot and go mingle while they gave it a shot. Almost every time, though, it became clear they couldn’t handle the load—it’s a lot more than just talking, after all. Either they fumbled the job, or they weren’t very good at it, and they ended up irritating the crowd. Let’s just say, some talents are better left to the pros…or me.

Honor means valuing others, cheering them on, and genuinely celebrating their wins—even if we’re secretly thinking, “Ugh, I wanted that last donut!” It’s like letting someone else have the best parking spot, holding the door open even when we’re in a hurry, or refraining from taking that donut I just mentioned that sits in the breakroom (okay, maybe half the donut). It’s realizing the world doesn’t revolve around us, no matter how much we wish it did. When we focus on honoring others, we’ll find that life becomes way less stressful and way more joyful.

Romans 12:11 - Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Zeal is that fire-in-the-belly enthusiasm that makes us jump out of bed in the morning ready to tackle the world—or, for me, to not hit snooze too many times. It’s what keeps us from turning into a spiritual couch potato, sitting around saying, “Eh, I’ll serve the Lord… tomorrow. Maybe. After my nap.” Paul is telling us to never let that fire die out. It’s like when we’re at a sports game, and everyone is cheering like their lives depend on it. Nobody’s sitting there thinking, “Clapping is so exhausting.” Nope, they’re all in! That’s the kind of zeal we’re called to have—not for a touchdown or a home run, but for the One who gave us life and purpose. So, we need to grab our metaphorical foam finger and cheer our heart out for God.

Spiritual fervor is like a double-shot of espresso for our faith. It’s that deep, bubbling excitement that fuels everything we do. Without it, we risk going through the motions—showing up to church like it’s just another item on our to-do list or saying prayers that sound like we’re leaving a voicemail. (“Hi God, it’s me again. Just checking in. Okay, bye!”) Keeping our spiritual fervor means staying connected to what truly matters. We can pray like we’re talking to our best friend (because we are). We can worship like no one’s watching (even if someone’s side-eyeing us). We can dive into the Bible like it’s a treasure map (because it is). We can keep that flame alive by remembering who God is and all He’s done for us.

Best part about this is that all this zeal and fervor isn’t just for show—it’s for serving. God didn’t light our fire so we could sit there roasting marshmallows; He wants us to get out there and make a difference. Whether it’s volunteering, encouraging someone, or simply smiling at the grumpy barista, serving the Lord means using our gifts to bring joy and hope to others. Let’s think of it as putting our faith into action—like a spiritual fitness bootcamp, but way more rewarding and without all the sore muscles.

So, how do we live out this verse? By staying pumped up about our faith and letting that excitement spill over into everything we do. Let’s picture ourselves as one of God’s hype team members, running around high fiving everyone, shouting, “God’s amazing! Let’s do this!” Sure, we might get some funny looks, but that’s part of the fun (I’ll admit…that’ll require working up to it for some). And remember, zeal isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being all-in. So, let’s crank up our spiritual energy, lean into God’s love, and serve like our life is a celebration of His goodness. Trust me, the world could use more of that kind of joy. Plus, when we’re on fire for God, we never know whose flame we might ignite along the way.

Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Hope is like the Wi-Fi signal of the soul—it keeps us connected even when life feels glitchy. And being joyful in hope means more than just smiling through the storm like a beauty queen on a parade float. It’s about having that deep-down confidence that God’s got this, even if things look like the opposite of "got this" right now. It’s kind of like waiting for cookies to bake. We know they’ll be amazing eventually, but we’re stuck staring at the oven timer, resisting the urge to eat more raw dough. Joyful hope says, “The cookies are coming! Hang in there!” And in the meantime, we sit around the kitchen smiling because we know something good is on the way.

Patience, on the other hand, is everyone’s favorite virtue to fake. Being patient in affliction doesn’t mean we have to enjoy the hard stuff. (No one’s sitting there thinking, “You know what’s great? Affliction!”) But it does mean sticking it out without losing our cool, even when life feels like one long line at the DMV.  We can think about patience as the emotional seatbelt for the bumpy roads. Sure, we’re screaming on the inside, but at least we’re staying strapped in and not jumping out of the moving car. And hey, affliction doesn’t last forever. Eventually, we’ll hit smoother roads—or at least a drive-thru for burger and fries.

Now prayer is the crucial thing here. We’ve heard it described as the hotline to heaven, with God always on the other end saying, “I’m listening—spill the beans!” Being faithful in prayer isn’t about having perfect words or a perfect track record; it’s about showing up, even when we’re tired, distracted, or not entirely sure what to say. What would it be like if we only talked to our best friends when we needed to borrow their truck or cry about a bad haircut. That relationship wouldn’t last long, right? But when we talk to God regularly, through the good, bad, and downright weird times, we’re building a bond that can withstand anything. Plus, it’s totally okay if some prayers sound like, “Hi God, it’s me. Help.” He gets it.

This verse is like a spiritual survival kit: hope to keep us smiling, patience to keep us steady, and prayer to keep us strong. When we live it out, we’re basically telling life, “You can throw what you want at me, but I’ve got God on speed dial, cookies in the oven, and the calmness of someone who’s seen the end of the story—and it’s good.” So let’s keep laughing through the waiting, leaning into the hard stuff, and pray like we’re chatting with our best friends. Who knows? We might just inspire someone else to hang in there too. And if all else fails, remember: hope, patience, and prayer pair really well with chocolate and a good nap.

Romans 12:13 - Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Sharing is one of those things we learned in kindergarten, but somehow, it still feels like a big ask as adults. Like, “You mean I’m supposed to share my time, my energy, and maybe even my snacks?!” Yes, we are. And before we start panicking about giving up our favorite bag of chips, just remember: God isn’t asking us to do this alone—He’s got our backs. Sharing with those in need doesn’t mean we have to solve every problem on the planet. It could be as simple as buying a coffee for someone having a rough day, dropping off groceries for a struggling family, or even me letting my kids use my truck (even when I know they’re going to return it with the gas tank empty). It’s about living with an open hand instead of a clenched fist—and let’s be honest, clenched fists are terrible for holding cookies anyway.

Hospitality is the art of making people feel at home, even we we secretly wish they were at their home. But biblical hospitality isn’t about impressing people with a spotless house or Instagram-worthy charcuterie boards. It’s about creating a space where others feel loved, valued, and maybe just a little spoiled. Think of it as hosting with heart. Got mismatched plates? Perfect—nobody cares! Burned the casserole? No problem—pizza delivery to the rescue. Hospitality isn’t about perfection; it’s about making people feel welcome. Some of the best times I’ve had with fellowshipping with people has been in my friend’s little farmhouse which was so small that if anyone smiled, their cheeks would touch opposite walls. We spent many hours there, and sometimes when it was so late that there was no other choice but to leave for home, my buddy would pull out the Scrabble board and we’d keep on going, while our wives were crashed on the sofas. So all we need for this is to dust off that board game, brew some coffee, and invite people into our messy, beautiful life. Bonus points if we can serve dessert because, let’s face it, dessert makes everything better.

All the above gets us to the place where we can minister to those in need, and all that needs to be done is have a willing heart and spirit. So, let’s not stress about having it all together—let’s just show up with that willing heart and maybe a plate of something tasty (even if it’s store-bought). Because at the end of the day, sharing and hospitality aren’t about stuff—they’re about love. And love is always in demand.

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – December 9, 2024

Also on Substack:

Previous Day Next Day

December 2024