Living Sacrifices to God

12 I (A)beseech[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (B)a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your [b]reasonable service. And (C)do not be conformed to this world, but (D)be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may (E)prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

For I say, (F)through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, (G)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt (H)to each one a measure of faith. For (I)as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so (J)we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is (K)given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us (L)prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; (M)he who teaches, in teaching; (N)he who exhorts, in exhortation; (O)he who gives, with liberality; (P)he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, (Q)with cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

(R)Let love be without hypocrisy. (S)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 (T)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, (U)in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 (V)rejoicing in hope, (W)patient[c] in tribulation, (X)continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 (Y)distributing to the needs of the saints, (Z)given[d] to hospitality.

14 (AA)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 (AB)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 (AC)Be of the same mind toward one another. (AD)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 (AE)Repay no one evil for evil. (AF)Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, (AG)live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, (AH)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, (AI)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

(AJ)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but (AK)overcome evil with good.

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be (AL)subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists (AM)the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [f]bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? (AN)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore (AO)you must be subject, not only because of wrath (AP)but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. (AQ)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Love Your Neighbor(AR)

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for (AS)he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, (AT)“You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” [g]“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, (AU)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore (AV)love is the fulfillment of the law.

Put on Christ

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time (AW)to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. (AX)Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and (AY)let us put on the armor of light. 13 (AZ)Let us walk [h]properly, as in the day, (BA)not in revelry and drunkenness, (BB)not in lewdness and lust, (BC)not in strife and envy. 14 But (BD)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and (BE)make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 urge
  2. Romans 12:1 rational
  3. Romans 12:12 persevering
  4. Romans 12:13 Lit. pursuing
  5. Romans 12:17 Or Provide good
  6. Romans 13:2 Lit. receive
  7. Romans 13:9 NU omits “You shall not bear false witness,”
  8. Romans 13:13 decently

Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries

To the Chief Musician. With [a]stringed instruments. A [b]Contemplation of David (A)when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”

54 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.
Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me,
And oppressors have sought after my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah

Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who [c]uphold my life.
He will repay my enemies for their evil.
[d]Cut them off in Your [e]truth.

I will freely sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For He has delivered me out of all trouble;
(B)And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 54:1 Heb. neginoth
  2. Psalm 54:1 Heb. Maschil
  3. Psalm 54:4 sustain my soul
  4. Psalm 54:5 Destroy them
  5. Psalm 54:5 Or faithfulness

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