Romans 12

I encourage you to take some time and read through Romans. Listen to how the world is at work, actively trying to pull you away from God. Hear the encouragement where even when we were His enemy, He extends grace and mercy to us. Nothing can stand in the way of His love.  

You are changed, made new, to love as Jesus loves! Be who He has made you to be to the world.

Then Romans 12, a wonderfully affirming passage. It’s one of my favorites. We recently explored the first couple of verses. We need to remember to replace the lies the world tells us, and when our feelings try to take over, with God’s truth.

It’s a recurring theme. Remember who you are!

So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12, NCV)

Notice how Paul goes from, then you will know God’s will for your life to, you have something to offer the entire body of believers. It feels like a part of his writing in Ephesians 4 where he describes different roles within the church, or even 1 Corinthians 12, as he describes different gifts of the Spirit.   

The message is the same. You matter to God! You are part of His plan and purpose!

3 Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you. 4 Each one of us has a body with many parts, and these parts all have different uses. 5 In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts. 6 We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us. The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith. 7 Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve. Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach. 8 Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy. (Romans 12, NCV)

There are tests offered that are to help you sort some of this if you wonder what your gift or gifts are. However, I don’t think it is meant to be too complicated.  

I recall another passage, 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NCV):

The answer is, if you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God.

Give your talents, your skills, and your passions, over to be used by God to grow His Kingdom. Love as Jesus loves in and through everything you do.

Back to Romans 12, I love how we are reminded of this.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. (Romans 12:9, NLT)

There isn’t a pressure here to be perfect.  

“Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads.”

(Romans 12:8, NCV)

Desire with all of your heart, to give the best you can, presenting yourself and offering your gifts to love others!

Blessings,

Pastor Matt