Let God's own love

Let God's own love be genuine in you.

Hate what is evil; hold to what is true. 

Let love be mutual, and given well; 

Ardently serve God and God's love foretell.

 

In hope rejoice, and suffer patiently,

And in prayer persevere most faithfully.

Give for the saints in time of trial and need;

Welcome the stranger both in word and deed.

 

Bless those who persecute, and do not curse; 

Never let foes make you act and speak worse. 

Do not be overcome by vain falsehood;

Overcome evil only with the good.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 12:9-21

MUSIC: Tune TOULON, Genevan Psalter, 1551.

The next reading in this year A series from Romans is a bit of a laundry list. Capturing all of Paul's items would have required a very long hymn, so a bit of a summarizing phrase is included in the final stanza.