December 9: Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8; Romans 15:1; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:1–2; James 5:19–20; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 5:5; Genesis 3:19; Job 19:26; Job 21:23; Job 21:25–26; Psalm 16:9; Psalm 39:4; Psalm 90:12; Ecclesiastes 12:7; 1 Corinthians 15:42–44; 1 Corinthians 15:47; Philippians 3:20–21 - a podcast by Crossway

Through love serve one another.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.—My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.—Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.—Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.—Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.—Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Romans 12:10(Listen)

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

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Romans 13:8(Listen)

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

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Romans 15:1(Listen)

The Example of Christ

15 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

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Galatians 5:13(Listen)

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

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Galatians 6:1–2(Listen)

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers,¹if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

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James 5:19–20(Listen)

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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1 Peter 1:22(Listen)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

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1 Peter 5:5(Listen)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

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The dust returns to the earth as it was.

What is sown is perishable…. It is sown in dishonor…. It is sown in weakness…. It is sown a natural body.—The first man was from the earth, a man of dust.

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”—One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure…. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.

My flesh… dwells secure.—“And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.”—The Lord Jesus Christ… will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”—So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Genesis 3:19(Listen)

19   By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread,
  till you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
  for you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”

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Job 19:26(Listen)

26   And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
    yet in¹my flesh I shall see God,

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Job 21:23(Listen)

23   One dies in his full vigor,
    being wholly at ease and secure,

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Job 21:25–26(Listen)

25   Another dies in bitterness of soul,
    never having tasted of prosperity.
26   They lie down alike in the dust,
    and the worms cover them.

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Psalm 16:9(Listen)

9   Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being¹rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.

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Psalm 39:4(Listen)

4   “O LORD, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!

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Psalm 90:12(Listen)

12   So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

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Ecclesiastes 12:7(Listen)

7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

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1 Corinthians 15:42–44(Listen)

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

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1 Corinthians 15:47(Listen)

47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

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Philippians 3:20–21(Listen)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

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