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.
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.
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.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
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;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
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.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
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.
20 Therefore “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Coming from the previous discussion of God’s amazing wisdom that includes us in His plan with purpose and gifting, there is further understanding here that for this actually to be our experience we have to simply present our bodies, not as some deserving entitlement before Him, but as vessels for His heart’s purpose. Instead of allowing our bodies to reflect the world that would press in around us, we can choose to be changed completely in our minds, bodies, and spirits. Who or what we present our bodies to will determine how they are developed and used. To be transformed in Him, though, has an appearance that Paul gives description. It will be void of those self-gratifying characteristics of the world and full of inspiration and motivation that is love driven. Our source of life in Christ is the same as those we’re now joined with in spirit and purpose. To have any calling in Him is to be dependent upon those other parts in their calling. To separate from them at all is to separate from one’s own connection to the Source. To present our bodies to Him is to also present our bodies to them as well. As our own source is dependent on this service, this will be a great drive in the diligence to serve Him well. Rather than getting caught up in the judgmental strife that would divide and diminish, we can be caught up in the power of overcoming any of those evil schemes with the amazing Good to Whom we have humbly presented our bodies.
This chapter has so much! Wow!
I was very challenged starting in verse 17 as it begins to talk about being hurt by others. I think we have all been there, someone, somewhere let us down, or did us wrong, or left us hurt and broken. I know I have been. Paul doesn’t exhort us to pray for a tornado to suck them up and whoosh them away, it says to bless them! Don’t repay evil for evil, live at peace with them, feed them if they’re hungry, give them a drink if they’re thirsty.
While this is definitely impossible in the flesh it is made possible by the spirit. Praise God it is not left up to myself to make it happen, but I do have to make living in the spirit, habitually, happen.
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