Romans 12

Bible Passage:  Romans 12

The first couple of verses is probably one of the Bible’s best known passages – and deservedly so.  This is an excellent reminder of the essence of the believer’s response to God’s grace.

When you read the first word of Chapter 12, it says, “Therefore”.

It is like Paul gathering all his teachings in the previous chapter so far and then confront the readers with the all important question:

“So what?”

So from Chapters 12 to 15, we start to read about how we ought to live out our faith each day.  There are so many teachings that one can draw from the readings over the next few days but I would just like to highlight what I see in today’s chapter.

Selflessness

If you read Rom 12:1-8, you will find the following key messages:

• Worship God: When the key goal of our lives is in worshiping God, we will avoid the temptation of worshiping ourselves or other idols.

  What do I mean by worshiping ourselves?  That is when we place ourselves as the centre of our lives. Everything we do, say, or think is for ourselves only.  God is secondary.

  What Paul encourages us is to be a living sacrifice.  It requires our obedience.  And this obedience is the product of God’s work in our lives, not something we manufacture on our own.

• Be Transformed: Don’t conform to worldly practices and standards but open yourself up for God to change you in ways that will honour Him.

  Many a times it is so hard to not conform to worldly practices isn’t it? After all, almost everyone else is doing it…. so why should I be the strong one and resist the ways of the world?

  But in choosing to be transformed by God, you are honouring God and shining a beacon of light for those who desperately need the same transforming power in their lives – Jesus! Be His witness!

• Act Responsibly: Measure your service on the basis of your gifts and not someone else’s.

  Most of us like to be able to serve God.  Or we think we ought to be serving God.

  But we must understand our roles… our gifts….

  Paul lists a few of them here…. teaching, encouraging, giving, leading….

  The lists of gifts God gives is endless…. but they are given to each of us in different measures.

  Our responsibility is to use them to serve God and others.  And not strive to do something beyond what we are called to do.

  So be responsible with the gifts that God has given you.

Sincere Love for the Body of Christ

The rest of the chapter suddenly seems to be a mishmash of random commands with very little structure and theme.

However, we do see that Love is one very important way of expressing the nature of the Christian life.  A Christian is to live in relation to other people.

But the problem with love is that it can be a very vague term.  It is also a much abused term and the meaning has been diluted, polluted and corrupted by the world at large today.

Biblical love is a choice, an act of the will, not an emotion.

It is easy to like certain people without loving them.  But how well do you love those you find it impossible to like?

Some of the things that Paul raised in Rom 12:9-21 are as follows:

• Honour Others Above Yourself:  Be humble not conceited.

  This is so hard and against the ways of the world isn’t it?

  Who doesn’t like to be praised?  Who doesn’t like to feel admired?  Who doesn’t like to be appreciated?

  It is very important when you are ‘successful’ spiritually that you do not become proud.  After all… it is completely and utterly the grace and mercy of God.

• Serve the Lord with Joy:  Keep your priorities in check by making this a focus.

  To be able to serve the Lord is a blessing and should be a joy.  Too many of us have lost that joy in our service to Him.

  Maybe because of the amount of work we are doing for Him that we start to feel bogged down and disheartened.

  But I have learned that we must find JOY in serving Him… otherwise the work will never be done well in a way acceptable to Him.

• Be Openhanded and Hospitable: Share what you have with believers in need.

  Open your hearts and homes to the needy.

  Smile and welcome truth seekers to church.

  Give a helping hand to someone today.

  All acts of love that may seem small to you…. but to the receiver they are HUGE!

• Live In Peace With People: Don’t take revenge when you have been wronged!

  I think verse 21 says it all for this…. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

  It certainly is easy to say but so hard to do.

  Guess that is why the non conformance comes into play.  And the transformation bit…..

Sometimes it is strange to think that the God of Love can have disciples who are so lacking in love.  Let us consider today how we can improve in our Godly love for the people around us.  It is a choice that we can make starting today 🙂