Be Devoted // Romans 12:10

Romans 12:10 (NIV) | Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

I decided to go and look at the meaning of the Greek word for devoted (philostorgos). It is actually what we might know as a compound word in English that means loving family. Whereas we might read it as a verb, it’s actually an adjective that describes the way we are called to love others. It is “used to describe a type of love that is characterized by deep, familial affection. It implies a natural, instinctive love that one might have for family members. In the context of the New Testament, it is used to encourage believers to exhibit this kind of love towards one another within the body of Christ, reflecting the close-knit, supportive relationships that should exist among Christians” (from Strong’s Concordance, #5387). You’ve probably heard that love is a verb, so being devoted to one another describes the kind of love we should seek to express, as well as experience. Does it describe you and the way you love? If not, what can you to right now to change that mindset, and as a result, change the way you love?

Photo Credit: YouVersion Bible App