September 17 Romans 14:1-12 Brotherly Love     15^th Sunday after Pentecost    Serve one another as God has blessed you!                  Psalter reading Psalm 103:8-13

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

                             Psalm 103:8-13 NKJV

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. Tongues Must Be Interpreted 6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.   Romans 14:1-12 NKJV

In Greek Philo is the word for a family or brotherly love. We try so hard to love our family and those close to us but we often seem to fail.  We can give up and stop trying.

The truth is we cannot love others, ourselves or even God as we should without God’s power and help.  In the Psalms we see the extent of God’s mercy and love.  Notice each description is an attitude or action.  For love is not how we feel but how we act.

We can see this in the Romans passage.  The Gifts from God are how we love each other through God!  Through “edification and exhortation and comfort” we love others and guide them to either come to Jesus or to grow through His love and power.

DO NOT get bound up in emotions and feelings and destroy your relationship with God and others.  But work out love and you will find your feelings and emotions changing!