Practical Advice Anyone Can Follow

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New Advent devotional books

I’ve written a simple Advent devotional book that we’ll be handing out at Asbury starting this weekend.

Readings start on December 1 and continue through each weekday of the Advent season, and as we work our way to Christmas, we’ll look at the overall story of the Bible and see God’s plan of salvation from the very beginning.

Take a stack of books and hand them out at Thanksgiving!

Live out of town? Email Sandie.

 
 

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 
 

Paul has been talking throughout the letter to both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians; in today’s reading, he gives practical advice on how to live well with other people, even if they are different from you.

The advice here is pastoral and practical.

Pick a line and try it today.

 

Therefore, Don't Conform. Be Transformed.

in
 

New Advent devotional books

I’ve written a simple Advent devotional book that we’ll be handing out at Asbury starting this weekend.

Readings start on December 1 and continue through each weekday of the Advent season, and as we work our way to Christmas, we’ll look at the overall story of the Bible and see God’s plan of salvation from the very beginning.

Take a stack of books and hand them out at Thanksgiving!

Live out of town? Email Sandie.

 
 

Romans 12:1-8

12 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.

 
 

“Therefore” means that Paul is following up from his beautiful doxology in the last chapter. In light of the long, complicated discussion of God’s relationship with Jews and Gentiles and His saving purposes, Paul says the only proper response is worship. “In light of what I just said, therefore….”

Because God is so good, worship is the proper response.

1 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 [Romans 12:1].

Romans 12:2 is the theme verse for our entire Romans study:

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.

What’s fascinating to me about this verse is that Paul says we can know God’s will after we are committed to transformation. Our worship will result in renewed minds so that we will be able to discern God’s will for our lives.

This passage comes after Paul’s long discussion about Israel and his remarks to Jewish and Gentile Christians in the previous 11 chapters. Now, he says, “You are all important, and no one is more important or necessary than anyone else.” 

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 [Romans 12:3-8].

We each have a role to play, and each role is important in its own way.

  1. You are not more important than anyone else.

  2. But much depends on your role, and only you can play the part assigned to you, so play your part with zeal and cheerfulness.