"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.
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.
For I say, “through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of
himself more highly that he ought do think, but to think soberly,
as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."
Romans 12:1-3To quote a friend, this chapter has a lot to chew on. In the New King James version, it is just 142 words long, but what a collection of words. Those few words, tell us how we are to live as Christians. A point form look at this chapter goes like this:
* vs. 5 in Christ each member belongs to all the others.
* vs. 6,7 we have different gifts and are to use them in proportion to our faith.
* vs. 9 our love must be sincere
* vs. 10 we are to be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
* vs. 11 we are to keep up our spiritual fervour, serving God.
* vs. 12 we are to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
* vs. 13 share with God’s people, who are in need & practice hospitality
* vs. 14 bless our persecutors
* vs 15 rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn
* vs. 16 live in harmony with each other, don’t be proud, but willing to associate with those in low positions.
* vs. 17 don’t repay evil with evil & do right in the eyes of everyone
* vs. 18 as far as it depends on you live in peace with everyone
* vs. 19 do not take revenge
* vs. 20 if your enemy is hungry feed him, if thirsty give him a drink
* vs. 21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What a list, a list we all fail to follow from time to time.
The reason, we fall short many times, is because we allow the secular world culture, around us to get into the church and into our lives. A quick look around the church, today, shows us we have a “Christian version” of everything the world has.
Many in the church, hardly read the Bible.
These people rely on the words of pastors, preachers, and other evangelists, both in church and in the media.
All too often, as I have discussed a topic with other Sunday School teachers, I hear “this television evangelists said this” or “that radio preacher said that.” When I question them, how those evangelists and preachers came to that conclusion, or why they themselves believe it, they can’t tell me.
They can’t tell me because they haven’t taken the time to read for themselves the Word of God.
Something to think about.
The only way to know how to be a Christian is to study God’s manual on how to be a Christian, the Bible!
No evangelist, preacher, Christian teacher, priest, bishop or pope has all the answers, simply because they are human with human frailties, like all of us.
The Bible has been called a living book, that speaks to the individual, who reads it. Revealing to them the wonders of God, no matter who they are.
Something to do:
Pick up the Bible and read it slowly and deliberately.
So that God can show you personally, the boundless truths He has for you.
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