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In Romans 12.9-16, Paul teaches us twelve imperatives of Christian community. If we put these imperatives into practice, our relationships will be healthy and our church life vibrant and strong. John Stott provides a one-word summary of each imperative, so let’s use his outline for sake of ease. 

First, sincerity: “Love must be sincere.” 

Second, discernment: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” I discussed these two imperatives in a previous devotional, so I won’t repeat what I wrote there, except to say that the more we love one another, the more we embrace those things that pull us together and reject those things that push us apart.  

Third, affection: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” The Greek word Paul uses here is philadelphia, the kind of love shared by brothers and sisters. As Christians, we should relate to one another neither as strangers nor as superiors and subordinates, but as affectionate siblings of our Heavenly Father. 

Fourth, honor: “Honor one another above yourselves.” We shouldn’t grab the spotlight for ourselves. Rather, we should shine it on the good work of others. 

Fifth, enthusiasm: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Following Christ is a gift, not a duty. We don’t have to be Christians. We get to be Christians. We should act accordingly. 

Sixth, patience: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Life does not always go the way we want it to. When it doesn’t, we should keep God’s preferred future in mind, endure a little hardship along the way, and marinate every circumstance we face and every person we meet in prayer. 

Seventh, generosity: “Share with God's people who are in need.” We live in America. We have plenty more than we really need, so we should freely share our abundance with others, especially the materially poor. 

Eighth, hospitality: “Practice hospitality.” As the two disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, we see Jesus when we open our homes and lives to others. (See Luke 24.13-35 for the details.) 

Ninth, good will: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” People may treat us badly, but we don’t have to reciprocate. Instead, we can treat one another proactively, according to the Golden Rule, which means doing to others as we want them to do to us. 

Tenth, sympathy: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Life has highs and lows. We should be both fair and foul weather friends to one another. 

Eleventh, harmony: “Live in harmony with one another.” A one-note song is boring. A broken chord is grating. A tune played in harmony is beautiful. So are friendships where we work with, rather than against, one another. 

Twelfth, humility: “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Remember, the Eternal Son of God left his throne in heaven for birth in a manger and death on a cross. He humbly served us. Let us do the same for one another.