Keith and Chris are back in the studio without Nathan Caldwell.
Romans 12 (NKJV)
Summary:
- God’s mercies must move us to please God.
- No man must think too well of himself;
- instead, everyone should attend to the calling in which he is placed.
- Love and many other duties are required of us.
- Revenge is especially forbidden.
12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
12:2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
12:3. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
12:4. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
12:5. so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
12:6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
12:7. or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
12:8. he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
12:10. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
12:11. not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12:12. rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
12:13. distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
12:14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
12:15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
12:16. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
12:17. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
12:18. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
12:19. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
12:20. “Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
12:21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Comments:
The title for today is “Living Sacrifices,” and if there are any core spiritual guideposts for believers to follow, this passage outlines what your new life in Christ should truly be. We are called to present our bodies to God in our spiritual service—drawing on His mercies and holding back from habits that harm our physical or spiritual well-being.
“Do not be conformed to this world.” Easier said than done. Often, we don’t actively seek out the world; it simply grabs us, sucks us in, chews us up, and squashes us flat. While we may not always control the external pressures of the world, we can control our minds through spiritual transformation.
People are wonderfully different. Some may seem to hold a more grand or prominent place, but we are called to be humble, relying on God’s strength. Remember the old poem about the lost battle: for want of a nail, a horse was lost; for want of a horse, a rider was lost; for the loss of a rider, a battle was lost; for the loss of a battle, a kingdom was lost. What is more grand—a kingdom or a nail? Yet because that small, lowly nail was missing, the course of history changed. Strive to do well in whatever role you are given, no matter how small it seems in the big picture.
We all have unique gifts and purposes:
- Prophesy: Sharing enlightenment from God with others.
- Service: Tending to the practical needs of those doing God’s work.
- Teaching: Sharing knowledge and inspiring others to grow mentally and spiritually.
- Exhortation: Being a cheerleader and encourager!
- Giving: If you can’t go or don’t know what to say, give generously of your time, money, or resources.
- Leading: If in authority, watch over and benefit God’s children with diligence.
- Showing Mercy: Do it gladly rather than grudgingly.
Love must be genuine. When loving becomes hard, draw once again on God’s mercies. Hate only what is evil, and cling tightly to what is good—be glue to godly things and Teflon to evil.
Paul touches on blessings and curses. Growing up, I was blessed with godly parents, but at the time, their strict diligence often felt like a “curse” keeping me on the right path! On another level, it is so easy to curse our enemies, but we are called to make the effort to bless them. Some enemies will never change, but others can become lifelong friends. Relationships are about building bridges, not driving wedges.
Always strive to be unified and of the same mind, especially with other believers. Avoid conceit, remembering that the humble person you overlook—perhaps a quiet prayer warrior behind the scenes—might just be the vital “nail” holding everything together. Always strive to be honorable and live at peace. If anger is called for, leave it in God’s hands; His justice is far more sweeping than anything we could dish out.
That is the ultimate challenge to end on: knowing when to stand firm for what is right, but knowing when to show compassion and heal wounds. That is what a spirit-filled life is all about.
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