A number of years ago I was teaching Psalm 19 at a women’s event for my church. Since the author of the Psalm describes God’s word as sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb, I had a brilliant idea! I provided each woman with a honey straw to experience right then and there the taste and texture of honey as a vivid and sensory illustration of God’s Word. Vivid and sensory indeed—vividly messy and extraordinarily sticky, and, surprisingly, not very tasty for some. Strangely, I think that’s how we often encounter God and the Word—sometimes it’s sweet, other times it's sticky. Every once-in-a-while it stings like a bee.

Today, my Bible reading took me to Romans 12 and I experienced all at once that familiar sweet and sting. This powerful passage flows from Paul’s appeal to present ourselves to God in surrender and worship—a good and acceptable response to God’s sweet transforming mercies and multifaceted gifts of grace. Paul urges, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself or herself more highly than he or she ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Rom. 12:3).

The rest of the chapter felt like the experience I described at the beginning. As I read, it was almost like the Spirit cut open a bunch of honey-straws in my lap—the Word was sweet but it was also messy, and this time it came with a sting, particularly as I considered the current state of much of the Church in America (which includes me). More than ever before in my life, I have sensed God’s Spirit leading me to pray for US, the many and diverse members of the body of Christ. “We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us ….” (Rom. 12:5–6).

In today’s climate, to respond in obedience to God—in the context of surrender and worship—is often messy and, at least in my experience, unpleasant. It requires sacrifice and a radical selflessness, counter-culture forgiveness and generosity, and the pursuit of good versus evil.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This radical and unprecedented call, I think, is exactly a picture of the life of love that Jesus calls us to and warns us about.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. John 15:12–27.

For the next little while, by God’s grace, I plan to memorize, pray through, and practice this passage of Scripture. If you are interested in joining me, send me an email: cas.monaco@familylife.com.