Todays readings.. 2 Samuel 20&21, Jeremiah 24, Romans 12

             How many things and experiences can we call “good” today?  We need to think of this as “good” – as God sees it!  It is surely only that which we are ‘inspired’ to think and do day after day as a result of reading God’s word.  

            What an uplifting, indeed, inspiring, chapter 12 we have in Paul’s letter to the Romans today! “Let love be genuine.” writes Paul (v,9)!  We think of the ‘loose’ and often meaningless way the word ‘love’ is used today!  Paul continues, “Abhor what is evil” – we can translate that as saying – have nothing to do with anything that is ungodly!

            Then Paul states the positive! “Hold fast to what is good.” Let us do that – that is – in contrast to things that are ungodly!  There seems to be a vast area in between! There is nothing in that area we can “hold fast” to!  

            In v. 3 Paul told the believers, “ … by the grace given to me I say to everyone …  not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment.” 

            It is with “sober judgement” that we must “Hold fast to what is good.”

            How challenging it is for us today to put into practice v.10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour.” Only by constantly associating with those who have the same spiritual commitment can we achieve that – and also “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” [v.12]. Only in this way can we “Hold fast to what is good.”