A Big Responsibility
In our walk as Christians (Acts 11:26) we have many responsibilities to ourselves, our walk, others, and especially God. In Romans 12:1-2, we are told "to present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual worship" and to "not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of [our] mind, that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect". In the rest of Romans 12 there is an enormous list of responsibilities placed on our shoulders. The chapter continues with aspects of our relationships with others, ourselves, and our service for God. Romans 12:3-8 focuses on the individual members of the body of Christ, how they fit together, and each person's individual gifts/talents that they have been blessed with. I love this passage and would like to focus on it at a later time.
Today I want to emphasize the importance of the responsibilities given to us in Romans 12:9-21. There are only 13 verses inside of this passage but there are numerous responsibilities located within them. Going through each verse, this is the list extracted from the passage:
Have genuine love (verse 9)
Abhor evil (verse 9)
1 Thess. 5:21-24; Prov. 8:13; Ps. 97:10; Prov. 6:16-19; Ps. 119:104; Ps. 139:21; Amos 5:15
Hold fast to good (verse 9)
1 Thess. 5:21-24; Col. 3:17; Gal. 6:9; Heb. 10:24; Titus 2:7-8; 2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10
Love one another with brotherly love (verse 10)
John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; Rom. 13:10
Show honor (verse 10)
Do not be slothful (verse 11)
Col. 3:17, 23-24; 2 Thess. 3:10-12; 1 Cor. 10:31; Ecc. 9:10; Gal. 6:9
Be zealous and fervent in spirit (verse 11)
Rev. 3:19; Titus 2:14; Rom. 10:2; Ps. 119:139; Phil. 1:27; 1 Tim. 4:10
Serve the Lord (verse 11)
Heb. 6:10; Col. 3:23-24; Rom. 12:1; 1 Sam. 12:24; John 12:26; Josh. 22:5; Josh. 24:15
Rejoice in hope (verse 12)
Patient in tribulation (verse 12)
James 1:2-4,12; 1 Pet. 1:7; Rom. 5:1-8; 1 Pet. 5:10; Rom. 8:28; Phil. 4:13; Ps. 39:19; Heb. 10:32-36; Job
Constant in prayer (verse 12)
Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; James 5:16; 1 Pet. 5:7
Contribute to needs of the saints (verse 13)
Gal. 6:10; 2 Cor. 8:7; 2 Cor. 9:1, 11-13; Heb. 6:10; 1 Cor. 16:2
Be hospitable (verse 13)
Bless those who persecute you, do not curse (verse 14)
Rejoice with eachother (verse 15)
Weep with eachother (verse 15)
Live in harmony (verse 16)
Col. 3:12-14; Eph. 4:2, 31-31; Rom. 15:5; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 2:2; Phil. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:8
Don't be haughty, be humble (verse 16)
Rom. 11:20; Rom. 12:3; Eph. 4:2; Prov. 11:2; 1 Pet. 3:3-4, 8; 1 Pet. 5:6; Col. 3:12; James 4:10; James 3:13
Don't repay evil for evil (verse 17)
1 Pet. 3:9; Prov. 20:22; Prov. 24:29; Rom. 12:19; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet. 2:23
Think on what is honorable to all (verse 17)
2 Cor. 8:21; Luke 5:31; James 1:19-20; Phil. 4:8-9; Heb. 13:18
To YOUR best ability, live in peace with all (verse 18)
Eph. 4:2, 31-32; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 John 4:20; Mark 9:50; Rom. 14:19
Never avenge yourself, let God worry about that (verse 19)
Rom. 12:17; Prov. 20:22; Prov. 24:29; Deut. 32:35; Ps. 94:1; 1 Thess. 4:6; Heb. 10:30
Don't mistreat your enemies, care for them as a brother (verse 20)
2 Kings 6:22; Prov. 25:21; Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27-36; Rom. 12:14
Don't be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good (verse 21)
Prov. 3:7; Rom. 2:8-6; Isaiah 5:20; 1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 4:27; Gal. 6:9
What a list! I will be the the first one to admit that I have not found myself fulfilling these tasks I have been entrusted with. This scripture challenges us to be better servants in God's kingdom. This list is MY responsibility! And...it is your's as well. I promise to always do my best to keep this list in my mind to continue my life in...
genuine love ~ clinging to good ~ loving all ~ demonstrating honor ~ being zealous ~ SERVING THE LORD ~ rejoicing in hope ~ having patience in tribulation ~ consistent in prayer ~ helping others ~ being hospitible ~ blessing all ~ crying with those in hardships ~ living in harmony with all ~ staying humble ~ always doing good ~ thinking on godly/honorable things ~ doing my best to get along with EVERYONE ~ always know God is in control ~ loving my enemies ~ overcoming ALL evil with good
I charge you to join me in this challenge to keep our minds upward and outward. I love this passage. The title that comes before it in physical bibles usually entitles this passage as the "Marks of the True Christian". Let us go out into the world and be shining lights (Matthew 5:13-16) showing every person we come in contact with the "marks of the true christian".
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
~ Matthew 5:13-16 ~
Let me know your thoughts below. :)
