- Living Sacrifices
- 1
- Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,
- to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--
- this is your spiritual act of worship.
- 2
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
- but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
- Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--
- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- 3
- For by the grace given me 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 measure of faith God has given you.
- 4
- Just as each of us has one body with many members,
- and these members do not all have the same function,
- 5
- so in Christ we who are many form one body,
- and each member belongs to all the others.
- 6
- We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
- If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
- 7
- If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
- 8
- if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
- if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
- if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
- if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
- Love
- 9
- Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 10
- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- 11
- Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- 12
- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
- 13
- Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- 14
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- 15
- Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- 16
- Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,
- but be willing to associate with people of low position.
- Do not be conceited.
- 17
- Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
- Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 18
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
- 19
- Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:
- "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," 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."
- 21
- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.