Your New Favorite Chapter

Welcome back to Tatum’s Truth. In this post, I want to share my favorite chapter from my favorite book of the bible, Romans 12. To me, Romans is like a guidebook on how God has designed us to live. For the next few posts I will be breaking down Romans 12, while pulling out applications that will help us in our everyday lives as Christ followers. The apostle Paul wrote “Romans”as a letter to prepare the church in Rome for his upcoming visit. His purpose for the letter was to confirm that their church understood the message of the gospel and how it applied to jews and gentiles. I think you will love this chapter as much as I do once you read it for yourself. Romans 12 is a testament to the fact that all of the Bible is God breathed; meaning God speaks the messages through the authors. God gave Paul these words to be expressed in a such a way that it is straightforward and easy to understand, yet poetic and beautiful at the same time.

Here it is, my favorite chapter out of my favorite book, Romans 12.

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. 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. 

For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 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. If it is serving let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; 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 must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one anther above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. 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.

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

So…What did you think? Do you love this chapter as much as I do? Scroll down just a bit to the button that says leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on Romans 12. Over the next few weeks we will basically be fellowshipping in an online Bible study as we break this chapter down verse by verse. I am looking forward to not only what I can share with you, but what the Holy Spirit reveals to me as we work together to soak in the meaning of God’s word.

Be blessed my friends,

Tatum