Anchor Devotional

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Healthy Competition

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

As we boarded a plane, my staff member pulled a switch. He had used travel rewards for a first class ticket but then gave me his seat and took my coach seat. He wanted me to experience a little luxury. I was deeply moved. I tried to argue with him (although not too hard!), but he wasn’t about to change his mind. So I graciously accepted his thoughtful gift.

In that one gesture, I better understood Paul’s admonishment to “outdo one another in showing honor” (as the Revised Standard Version puts it). It’s one of 59 occurrences in the New Testament of the phrase “one another” and perhaps the only time we are told to outdo another.

How different would life be if we truly tried to outdo one another in showing kindness and love? Think about it: what would it look like with your spouse, children, co-workers, boss, neighbors, or friends? Can you honor that person who annoys or opposes you?

A world of “honor competition” would be wonderful. Paul thought it was worth writing about. So do I. Are you ready to join the healthy competition?

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Romans 12:9-21

INSIGHT
Holy Spirit, show me how to give honor; then prompt my heart and stir my will to do it today and every day. Amen

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 53-54
Psalm 97
Acts 20

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