Romans 12:10

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

“Devoted” and “Honor” are two words that we don’t hear much in today’s world…and that’s a shame. Devotion denotes loyalty and honor means to show merited respect. When you take these words into a biblical context, like in today’s verse, they become all the more powerful and worthy of our consideration.

Being devoted to one another as family members brings with it an almost tribal or communal feeling; we stick together through thick and thin. You’ve got my back and I’ve got yours. Add to it the dimension of brotherly love and you’ve got yourself an incredibly powerful combination. Devotion + Love = Christ on the Cross.

Honoring one another inside the family shows a proper respect for one another on a few levels. First of all, we are all made in the image of God and that gives each of us inestimable worth. Secondly, the fact that you are part of a family is an incredible blessing! There are nearly 30 million children worldwide who live life everyday without a family. No mom. No dad. No brother or sister.

Finally, Paul tells us to honor one another above ourselves. It’s hard to take a back seat…to go to the end of the line…to watch somebody else get all the attention. However, this kind of a lifestyle comes with a promise from the lips of Jesus Himself: He who is first will be last, and he who is last will be first in the Kingdom of God.

APPLICATION: Talk about what it takes to be a successful team. What role does devotion play? How does honoring one another help the team? How does your willingness to take a back seat help the team? Finally, discuss how your family is like a team…then APPLY what you are learning!