Verse of the day: Romans 12:10

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

The Beautiful Inversion: Learning to Crown Each Other

In a world that screams for our attention, where we are coached to build our personal brand and climb the ladder of success, the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 12:10 land with quiet, revolutionary power: "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

This isn't a gentle suggestion to "be nice." It’s a call to a radical reordering of our relationships and our egos. The first part, "be devoted in love," uses a Greek term that paints a picture of deep, familial affection—the kind of fierce, tender loyalty you’d have for a sibling or a parent. It’s a love that makes another’s joys and sorrows our own.

But it’s the second part that truly challenges us: "Honor one another above yourselves." How do we even begin to do that? Our instincts cry out for recognition and validation. To honor someone else above ourselves feels like a step down, a loss. But in God's kingdom, it is the path to true community and joy.

I’ve often tried to visualize what this looks like, and my mind goes to the imagery of a medieval illuminated manuscript. Imagine the verse written on a page, its borders decorated with intertwined golden vines. This represents our community—not a collection of separate individuals, but lives woven together, drawing life and strength from the same source, Christ. We are designed to be interconnected, to support and nourish one another.

The central image, however, is the most powerful. It’s not a king on a throne or a victorious warrior. It’s two ordinary people, facing each other. Each one is holding a beautiful, golden crown—a symbol of honor and immense value. But they aren't trying to place the crown on their own head. Instead, each person is reaching out to place their crown on the other's head.

This is the beautiful inversion of the Gospel. A community where everyone is focused on celebrating the worth of others. A fellowship where we actively look for opportunities to say, "I see the image of God in you, and it is worthy of honor." This is what it means to live out this verse. It is choosing to champion someone else's success, to serve in ways that go unnoticed, and to value another's needs and perspective as highly as our own. It is washing one another's feet in humble service.

Today, look for a crown you can give away. Who can you honor? Who can you celebrate? In this simple, radical act of honoring another, we don't lose value. We simply participate in the divine economy of love, building a community that reflects the heart of Christ himself.




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