We are continuing in the book of Romans today! I'm going to skip ahead to Romans chapter 12.
Ready to Dig In?!
Romans 12:2-8
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christs body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to eachother.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others do it gladly.
The world often has much different views than God's views. We need to grow a deeper relationship with God, by reading and studying His word and talking to Him, so that we know what God's views are.
The Church is called the Body of Christ. All of us make up the different part's of the body. If our Human bodies were made up of all fingers we wouldn't be able to Eat! Or walk! Or see! Just as our Human bodies need different parts to function so does the church and this world.
The "body parts" of the church are the gifts that God has given each one of us! Some of you may be amazing singers, and can serve on the Praise Team at church. Some of you may be blessed with the ability to host or cook, you can use that to have a new couple from church over for dinner. Or maybe you are very encouraging to others, or God has given you the gift of teaching-lead a Bible Study or teach Sunday School.
There are SO many different gifts out there and there is not one better than the other...they are all very important in the Body of Christ! And God wants us to use those talents and gifts.
Romans 12: 9-
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Love eachother with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
When God's People are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other.
God says we need to "love eachother with genuine affection". People can usually tell when you are being real with them or faking it. So SHOW people you love them. Speak kindly to them, be happy when they are happy, cry with them when they are sad. Encourage them. Help them.
Pray for those who give you a hard time. And don't curse them back. Show them God's love and pray that God will show them His love. And we are to live in peace with those around us.
Romans 12:19-21
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back" says the Lord.
Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
When someone does you wrong, the first thing you do is think of all the ways to get revenge! But this scripture says to show those people love. And let God have revenge, because God's revenge will be better than any revenge you could give.
When keep showing people love they will see something different in you. And maybe, just maybe...they will begin to show you love right back :).
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