We continue our study of Paul\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s letters<\/a> this week with Romans 12<\/a>. In the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul talked about salvation and being reconciled to God through faith in Christ, not by works of the law. In Romans 12, Paul instructs all who put their faith in Christ to live a life surrendered to Christ.<\/p>\n
Paul begins exhorting us to:<\/p>\n
v. 1 (NASB)<\/b><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 7:22-23 (NASB)<\/b><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Paul continues instructing us to:<\/p>\n
v. 2 (NASB)<\/b><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
v. 3-8 (NASB)<\/b><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Paul instructs us:<\/b><\/p>\n
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- Let<\/i> love be<\/i> without hypocrisy<\/b>. Abhor what is evil;<\/b> cling to what is good. v. 9<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
First Timothy 1:5 says that our purpose is to love. And love (God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s love) springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience and sincere (non-hypocritical) faith. Our actions show our faith. If our faith is in God, we will hate evil and turn from it, and we will love Christ and cling to what is good. If we still love and cling to the things of the world, we are not fully trusting and putting our faith in Christ.<\/p>\n
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- Be<\/i> devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;<\/b> v.10<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We should show special affection and honor to our brothers and sisters in Christ because they have been adopted into the same family of God as we have been.<\/p>\n
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- not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;<\/b> v.11<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The original Greek word translated here as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153serving\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is douleu\u00c3\u00b3, which means: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slave\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the Lord. We must not look at the word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slave\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the Bible as we know it today. The world dictionary defines slave as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/i>a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s definition is not the same. God did not purchase us back to force us to obey Him. He rescued us because He loves us. Even though we are His, He hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t taken away our free will. We still have a choice to serve Him. My husband prayed recently, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153God, take my free will. I just want Your will.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s great love for us makes us willingly surrender all that we have to Him. Knowledge of His love keeps that fire burning in our spirit and helps us diligently serve Him.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
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- rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, v. 12<\/b> <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Nehemiah said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Nehemiah 8:10).<\/b> Staying connected to God, looking to Him with great expectation, knowing that He causes all things to work together for our good, gives us joy and strength to persevere in hardships.<\/p>\n
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- contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. v. 13<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 8, where the Macedonian churches gave generously to the needs of the Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/b>In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/b>Notice that they gave themselves FIRST to the Lord, and then God moved in them to give themselves to Paul and his fellow laborers.<\/p>\n
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- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse<\/b>. v.14<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bless\u00e2\u20ac\u009d here means to speak well of. The Bible says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (1 Peter 3:10, NIV). <\/b>Jesus instructed us to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Matthew 5:44, KJV).\u00c2\u00a0 <\/b>Jesus blessed His enemies as He asked God to forgive those who were crucifying Him (Luke 23:34). Stephen blessed his enemies as he cried out to God while being stoned: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Lord, do not hold this sin against them\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/em>(Acts 7:59-60).<\/b> David blessed his enemy, Saul, by refusing to lay a hand on him (1 Samuel 24:6-7). Paul blessed all who deserted him at his first trial. When no one stood by him, He prayed, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153May it not be held against them\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (2 Timothy 4:16). <\/b>We bless those who come against us because Jesus said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153they know not what they do\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Luke 23:34).<\/b><\/p>\n
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- \u00c2\u00a0<\/sup>Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.<\/b> v. 15<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Thinking of others, and putting ourselves in their shoes, will help us relate to what they are going through so we can sincerely weep with them in their trials and rejoice with them in their blessings.<\/p>\n
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- Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.<\/b> v. 16<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
First Corinthians 4:7 says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/b> We are all the same in God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes. None of us is greater or less than anyone else. We are unwise to compare ourselves to others and use ourselves as the standard of measurement (2 Corinthians 10:12).<\/p>\n
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- Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.<\/b> v. 17<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We are instructed in 1 Peter 3:9 not to repay evil with evil or insult with insult. We are instructed, on the contrary, to repay evil with blessing so that we may inherit a blessing.<\/p>\n
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- If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.<\/b> v. 18<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We can do our best to live at peace with others by trusting God to care of the wrongs done to us. We need to remember that our struggles are not against people (Ephesians 6:12). <\/b>It helps me keep peace by remembering that Satan uses other people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s weaknesses to attack my weaknesses. If we know Satan uses others to provoke us, it will help us not retaliate when they treat us wrong.<\/p>\n
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- Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God<\/i>, for it is written, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/b>Vengeance is Mine<\/b>, I <\/b>will repay<\/b>,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says the Lord.<\/b> v. 19<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t step in front of God and tell Him \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I got this. I can handle it on my own.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/i>Let God be your vindicator. He will repay.<\/p>\n
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- \u00e2\u20ac\u0153<\/b>But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head<\/b>.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/b> v. 20<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We had a neighbor once that treated us poorly. No matter what she did to us, my husband and I refused to treat her poorly in return. Instead, we blessed her by helping her with things she needed done. By doing so, it convicted her and eventually changed her heart toward us.<\/p>\n
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- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. v. 21<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There may be a lot of evil in this world, but we can overcome it with good, because He who is in us is so much greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).<\/p>\n
Heavenly Father,<\/i><\/p>\n
Thank You for these powerful truths in Your Word to encourage and help us live a life surrendered to You. Help us apply these truths every day with the help of Your Holy Spirit in us. \u00c2\u00a0Help us not to be wise in our eyes, but to fear You and depart from evil. For it shall be health to our body and nourishment to our bones (Proverbs 3:7-8). <\/i><\/p>\n
In Jesus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 name we pray, Amen!<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
How did God speak to you through Romans 12? Is there anything He revealed that you would like to share with others?\u00c2\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
*This series will continue next Monday as we study Romans 13. <\/b><\/a>\u00c2\u00a0Have a blessed week faithfully serving the Lord!<\/p>\n
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We continue our study of Paul\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s letters this week with Romans 12. In the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul talked about salvation and being reconciled to God through faith in Christ, not by works of the law. In Romans 12, Paul instructs all who put their faith in Christ to live a life surrendered to Christ. Paul begins exhorting us to: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d v. 1 (NASB) We have been bought at a price. We are not our own. We are God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s. We worship and honor Him by committing all that we have to Him. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:22-23 (NASB) Paul continues instructing us to: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d v. 2 Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10,313],"tags":[260,31,36,21,264,297,299,298],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharingtruths.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}