Romans chapter 12 is where I want to start today. I want to start here because I believe there's something here we constantly overlook when we read part of this chapter. We all know what the first 2 verses say,
1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
We've all either have read those 2 verses or have heard them preached in the pulpit for years. But there's more to the story than that. And it's the rest of the story I want us to look at. Because we all know what Paul says we need to do. But how do we do it? And what's more, why do we need to do it?
Have you ever had someone tell you what you need to do, but never tell you how to do it? They may even tell us why we need to do it, but it's the how part that we need to know. Right? How do we do it? Believe it or not, unlike our friends, family and loved ones, God's Word tells us what we need to know. Guess where? The following verses after verses 1 and 2.
3 "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Now, Paul says we are family. All of us. There is no exception to that. We're to act lovingly to each other. We are to stay humble by not thinking more of our ability, our popularity, or our intellect than we should. Which means we are in the wrong to think we're all that. We're sinning by bragging on ourselves. Paul says here, "Not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought."
That's what the bible says we are to do and yet we're doing the exact opposite of that! Instead of being humble to each other, we're hating each other. Instead of humbling ourselves in our everyday lives, we're bragging about what we have and what we've accomplished. Instead of treating each other like family, we're treating each other like enemies! Why are we doing this? Why are we putting each other through this? Why are we trampling each other down in our day to day lives, when we should be treating each other with the love of Christ and the grace of God?!
We turn on the news at night and all we here are shootings here, there, and everywhere! We hear about people treating each other with hate, with evil, and disgust! We are hating on each other with viciousness, with malice and absolutely no shame whatsoever!
Marriages are falling apart right in front of our eyes! Married couples are coming apart at the seams, people are getting divorced citing irreconcilable differences, putting our children through the heart wrenching agony of seeing their parents treating each other like bitter enemies! Why are we doing this to each other?! What good could possibly come from this?! Have we become so selfish that we are putting ourselves before anyone and everyone else, including God Himself?!
Are you looking at the same scripture I am? Does it not say this? Paul even says we are to think soberly. How do we do that? Sober minded is clear minded. It's open minded. It's not clouded by hate and anger. It's humble. It's peaceful. It's as calm as the sea. If we are to be sober minded, we need to get all the negative thoughts and feelings out of our head! We need to bind those weapons of the enemy in the Name of Jesus Christ! We need to take authority over such things, otherwise, we are at the mercy of sinful temptation, and I promise you, Pally, we will fall hook, line and sinker right into it! But that's not all Paul tells us to do. Keep reading.
6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us"
Did you catch that? Each of us have a gift that is different than what others have, but they all are given to us according to the grace we are given. Which means, when we came to Christ and gave our hearts and lives to Him, we received His gift of salvation through His Grace, and with that Grace, come gifts. Spiritual gifts that the Lord has given us to do what He has called us to do, preach the Gospel.
"let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
In other words, use the gifts God has given you for the ministry He has given you to do. If you're not called to it, don't do it. If it's not your calling, it's not your place. I have seen churches and people in the church push and push and push certain ministries down people's throats and it makes me sick to my stomach every time I see it or hear about it! It's not your place to tell anyone where to serve. God calls them, not you.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Be humble, be kind, be at peace, be friendly and loving to each other. Don't let hard times get to you to the point that you start blowing up at everything and everybody. Keep your eyes on God and let Him do what He does best.
"So, why hasn't God done anything about what I'm going through?" Chances are because you won't let it go, pal. You won't let it go because you want to stay mad about the situation, you want to stay mad at the one who hurt you, you want to keep thinking about it. You want to keep replaying it in your mind. You want to keep telling people about it. The reason God hasn't done anything about it and won't do anything about it, is because you are still trying to do something about it yourself! And since you can't do what you would like to do to get back at that person or do something about your situation like you want, you get your revenge by holding on to the anger you feel. God's not going to get this as long as you keep thinking you got this! Why should He step in and do something about it when you're still trying to yourself?
14 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
See? Bless, don't curse. "So what? You mean I can't cuss out the one who hurt me or the situation that is draining me?" What did the man of God here just say? Bless and do not curse. Sounds pretty cut and dry to me, pal. "Well, why should I do that?" Because the bible says when you do that, you heap coals of fire on the head of the ones who wronged you. Just because you forgive someone for hurting you doesn't mean God is going to give them a free pass. No sir! They will still answer to God for what they did, unless they repent. And like I said so many times before, what makes you think you can do a better job avenging yourself than God can? Simple. You can't. No one can.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Well, lookie here. "Don't set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own opinion." So, don't get a big head, don't think so highly of yourself, but instead, hang with those who are humble. Those who work for a living, those who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to earn a living, don't get your head so wrapped up in winning the lottery jackpot, and most of all, be thankful for what you have!
The bible says that those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. What does that mean? Simple, if you think you're all that and a bag of chips with dip on the side, you're in for a serious wake up call, Pally. But if you humble yourself and don't make yourself out to be more than you really are, you'll be elevated, you'll be promoted, and you will be exalted. But as long as you go around with nothing but money and the things of this world on your mind and you're longing to live the lifestyles of the rich and famous, God's not going to be found anywhere in all of that!
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Don't be so hard up for revenge. Because revenge only hurts those who use it. Let it go and let God deal with it. No good ever comes from getting back at someone. The only one who will suffer for it will be the one you see in the mirror every morning.
19 Beloved do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
See? Even Paul tells us not to get back at people. So, what does he mean when he says give place to wrath? Step back and let God step in and take care of it. Again, simple. When you let God step in and deal with the problem, you are freeing yourself from all the heartache and pain you're feeling right now. And God will move on your behalf and who knows? That person just might repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Do you really want to see anyone go to hell? If you do, you need to repent yourself, pal! We should all want to see everyone go to Heaven when it's time. Wishing someone to burn in hell is not only vengeful, sadistic, and pure evil, but it's also vain! Because when you wish someone to hell, you're not thinking of anyone but yourself!
20 Therefore
“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.”
See? Told ya it said that.
21 Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
Returning evil for evil is just like dealing with violence with violence. How many times have we heard and even said violence never solves violence? So, what makes returning evil for evil any different?
