为事奉上帝而活

12 所以,弟兄姊妹,我凭上帝的怜悯劝你们献上自己的身体,作圣洁、蒙上帝悦纳的活祭。你们理当这样事奉。 你们不可追随世界的潮流,要随着思想的不断更新而改变,这样就能明辨上帝的旨意,知道什么是良善、纯全、蒙祂悦纳的。

我凭上帝赐给我的恩典劝告各位,不要自视过高,要照着上帝赐给各人的信心中肯地看待自己。 就像我们身体的各部分有不同的功能, 我们众人在基督里组成一个身体,彼此联结,息息相关。 我们照所得的恩典各有不同的恩赐。说预言的,要按着信心的程度说预言; 服侍的,要忠心服侍;教导的,要专一教导; 劝勉的,要诚心劝勉;施舍的,要慷慨施舍;治理的,要殷勤治理;怜悯的,要甘心怜悯。

相爱相顾

不可虚情假意地爱人。要疾恶如仇,一心向善。 10 要彼此相爱如同手足,互相尊重,彼此谦让。 11 要殷勤,不可懒惰,要常常火热地事奉主。 12 盼望中要有喜乐,患难中要坚忍,祷告要恒切。 13 信徒有缺乏,要慷慨帮助;客人来访,要热诚款待。 14 迫害你们的,要为他们祝福;要祝福,不可咒诅。 15 要与喜乐的人同乐,与哀哭的人同哭。 16 要彼此和睦,不可心高气傲,反要俯就卑微的人,不可自以为聪明。

17 不要以恶报恶。要尊重别人,众人都认为好的事,应该竭力去做。 18 如果可能,总要尽力与人和睦相处。 19 亲爱的弟兄姊妹,不要私自报复,要让上帝来审判,因为圣经上说:

“主说,‘申冤在我,我必报应。’”

20 所以,

“你的仇敌若饿了,就给他吃的;
若渴了,就给他喝的;
你这样做是把炭火堆在他头上。”

21 你不可被恶所胜,反要以善胜恶。

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. 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

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. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,(I) so in Christ we, though many, form one body,(J) and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts,(K) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,(L) then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;(M) if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;(N) if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;(O) if it is giving, then give generously;(P) if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

Love must be sincere.(Q) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(R) 10 Be devoted to one another in love.(S) Honor one another above yourselves.(T) 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(U) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(V) patient in affliction,(W) faithful in prayer.(X) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(Y) Practice hospitality.(Z)

14 Bless those who persecute you;(AA) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(AB) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(AC) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.(AD)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(AE) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(AF) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(AG) 19 Do not take revenge,(AH) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](AI) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e](AJ)

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

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:6 Or the
  2. Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others
  3. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
  4. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  5. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22