May 12, 2017
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Reading along with us in Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 12 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness… Continue Reading
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Living sacrifice
Sober judgement
Gifts in measure of faith
All working together as one body❤️
In previous chapters, Paul has presented the truth of God’s sovereignty in our salvation, reminding us that it is God who chooses us, by His grace.
Now what? Our humility in place, Paul writes: “Therefore, 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 act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
How? “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.” (Romans 12:2)
The humbling reminder, again, that God also gives us faith: “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
And now, “since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us (Romans 12:6),” how can any of us boast, take pride in, or view ourselves in any way as being “more than” any other believer? How can we look down (or up) to any other spiritual gifts He has chosen to give to others? God is the source of everything we have and are in Christ. And we are one! Grace upon grace, working in harmony and love.
The rest of Romans 12 is a beautiful picture of the outcome God’s grace should produce in us. Amen.
It just keeps getting better, doesn’t it? I love the progression…..because God is so great (from the close of chapter 11), therefore be living sacrifices…how, do not conform but be transformed….the result, then you will be able to know what God’s will is. And there is nothing better than that!!!
And in the same way faith is essential in salvation, it is also essential as we live out our Christian lives especially in expressing the spiritual gifts that God gives us.
And do you want to know how to act with others? want to have great relationships? Then read verse 9 to the end, believe what is here, pray that God through His word and Spirit would develop these things in you, and then look for opportunities to make choices based on these principles and look for the Spirit to be moving you to do so.