³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.^(A) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(A) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried^(B) and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a](C) Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

²⁰ you were bought at a price.^(A) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(B)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

³⁶ There was also a prophet,^(A) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[a](B) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.^(C)

²⁰ I eagerly expect^(A) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(B) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(C) whether by life or by death.^(D)

²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.^(A)

¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(A) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^(B)

⁸ This is a trustworthy saying.^(A) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.^(B) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.