Romans 12:1-21
Do Not Follow the World's Ways
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
St. Paul urged us to see the mercy of God and to offer our way of life as a tribute to God...Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will...For the world around us will try to conform and to mold us into something and someone different than God intends...Let God mold us so that we may follow Him and His Plan...for the Plan of God is good, and meets all His demands and moves towards Him and His Son and an eternal life...
St. Paul said that from just one man named Adam that God made all the nations, and that all men should inhabit the whole earth...God marked out their appointed times in which they would live and where they would live on earth...God did this so that we would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though God is not far from any one of us...For in God we all live and move and have our being and our lives...Some of the Greek poets have even said that we are God's offspring, His children...We are all children of God...
And St. Paul would write that it is written that the first man Adam became a living being; and the last Adam became a life-giving spirit named Jesus...For there is no difference between the Jew and Greek: for the same LORD is LORD over men and richly blesses all that call upon Him...So St. Paul believed that all men are of one blood, and all made and created in the Image of God...This makes everyone on earth a relative from one blood...Then we are all brothers and sisters...
The way we are raised and the people we meet in life and our culture can make us bias and can make us enemies an be unrighteous...We become more conformed to this world and less to the Kingdom of God...But Jesus seeing this, said we are to love our enemies and pray for them...And when we do we will be Sons of our Father in heaven...or God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?...Are not even the tax collectors doing that?...And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?...Do not even pagans do that?... Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect...
St. Paul tells us that our love must be real and genuine...Hate what is evil...Do only what is good...Love each other, your neighbor, your brother in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters...And give each other more honor than you give yourself...As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy...Be excited about serving Him!...Be happy because of the hope you have...Be patient when you have troubles...Pray all the time...Share with God’s people ad your neighbor's who need help...Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes...
Wish only good for those who treat you badly...Ask God to bless them, not curse them...We are all His offspring...When others are happy, you should be happy with them...And when others are sad, you should be sad too....Live together in peace with each other...Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others...Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else...Share with them...
If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them...Try to do what everyone thinks is right...Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone...My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you...Wait for God to punish them with His anger...In the Scriptures the LORD says, “I AM the one who punishes; I will pay people back.”...But you should do this: “If you have enemies who are hungry, give them something to eat...If you have enemies who are thirsty, give them something to drink...In doing this you will make them feel ashamed.”...Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good and helping others...