Rudo Kayombo is area vice president, Africa, at Habitat for Humanity International. Read her Advent reflection below.
According to Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome, God’s love is expressed in his mercy toward sinners like you and me. Paul proposes that a fitting response from the recipients of this love is worship through offering ourselves as living sacrifices.
As we worship, we must show humility (Romans 12:3). Humility comes out of a sober estimation of self, knowing that you are part of the body of Christ. Each believer brings a part of what the whole body of believers needs, and in turn, each has need of what the other believers provide. We are each blessed with different gifts and talents and serve different functions as we bring God’s love into action as a whole.
Sincere love and brotherly devotion are also necessary parts of our worship (Romans 12:9-10). Love that is sincere is love that flows out of having received God’s love. Jesus laid down His life for us, and while we may not be asked to lay down our lives for fellow believers, we are asked to honour others above ourselves.
As we show God’s love, we are also called upon to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) By being joyful in hope, we share our love — not out of hope for reciprocation, but out of hope that our love can benefit those in need.
At times, love may lead to affliction, as we wait for our acts of sacrifice to yield a change of heart or direction. The early disciples like Paul endured much for the cause of the gospel, and the heroes of faith recorded in Hebrews 11 are known for having hoped for a future that was worth their sacrifice. Some died without seeing the result of their trust in God, but we know that He prepared a reward for their faith in heaven.
Lastly, love requires that we are faithful in praying for the recipient of our love. During this time of Advent and throughout the year, may God produce in us the kind of love for others that is reflective of His mercy and love for us.
Lord, we ask that You forgive us for the ways we have trivialized Your mercy toward us. Draw us into a relationship with You and with one another that is bounded in sincere love. Teach us to love in the way You love. Let our worship be meaningful to those You put in our lives.
