A month of studies from Romans 12
We can all choose to not get offended, to be aware of our own neighbourhood, of those working in the same company, and our own families. Too many families have members who do not speak to others because of old family feuds, or recent disagreements. But overcome evil with good.
Both Leviticus and Numbers can be difficult books to read, but have some very interesting facts about the holiness of The Lord, and they help us to realise just how much Jesus has done for us in opening up the way to Him, and to His Father.
Maybe hate is too strong a word for many of us today. But all of us will be aware of people who we would not choose to be friends with, who we would not invite for dinner, who rub us the wrong way, whose ideas are totally opposite to ours.
People who do wrong have generally no idea that they are prompted by the devil. But those who forgive are often aware that it is through the example of Jesus and the support of Holy Spirit that we can forgive. Human attitudes are selfish. Forgiveness is not a natural inclination.
Live at peace with everyone. In His long farewell speech to His disciples, Jesus told them that He was leaving His peace with them. That is a strange statement. Physical things can be left to others when we die, but how does one leave something non-tangible with anyone else?
Paul is talking to people in a fairly new Christian community, and is urging them to let go of any wrong attitudes they had in their old lives, and become a loving caring community who will bless others and attract attention because of the good things they do and say.
This is one of the hardest things to teach our children. I have yet to meet a young child who, if another child kicks them, will not kick back! The response is natural and quick! But Paul is telling us to refuse to respond in the way of the world.
Humility is the opposite of conceit. Jesus is our model for that. He was the humble servant. It is His example we must follow remembering that everything that we have is given to us by Father God who asks us to use ALL our gifts for His glory, not ours.
Most of us get on well with those who think and act as we do, those of our own or a similar culture. But to be a Living Sacrifice means that we have to work at some things, and living in harmony with one another is probably one of them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. I find this an easier challenge than yesterday. Rejoicing is easier than blessing people we have no affection for. But what if those people are the very ones who are rejoicing or mourning? Should we not come alongside them too?
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