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.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(H) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”^(A)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

¹⁵ He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves^(A) in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.^(B) What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind,^(A) for he knew what was in each person.^(B)

³ For even Christ did not please himself^(A) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a](B)

⁹ For you know the grace^(A) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(B) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(C) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(D)

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.^(A) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,^(B)

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:^(A)