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  1. Mon: Matthew 13-14
  2. Tue: Isaiah 11-13
  3. Wed: Joshua 21-24
Thursday · Week 5
The Epistles & Revelation

Romans 12-13

Week 5 · about 5 min
  1. Fri: Ezekiel 11-12
  2. Sat: Job 16-19
  3. Sun: Genesis 26-29

After eleven chapters explaining the gospel, Paul shows what it looks like in everyday life.

Where Doctrine Turns Into Daily Life

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Chapter 12 begins with “therefore,” and everything Paul has said so far leads to it. Because of God’s mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Then it gets practical in a hurry. Don’t think too highly of yourself. Use the gift God gave you. “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Feed your enemy if he’s hungry. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” In chapter 13 Paul tells believers to respect government and pay taxes, and he wrote that while Nero was emperor. He sums it up with one debt that never gets fully paid: love one another.

Reflect: Which line in Romans 12 would change your week if you actually did it?

Romans 12

1For this reason I make request to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you will give your bodies as a living offering, holy, pleasing to God, which is the worship it is right for you to give him.

2And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

3But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself, but to have wise thoughts, as God has given to every one a measure of faith.

4For, as we have a number of parts in one body, but all the parts have not the same use,

5So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another;

6And having different qualities by reason of the grace given to us, such as the quality of a prophet, let it be made use of in relation to the measure of our faith;

7Or the position of a Deacon of the church, let a man give himself to it; or he who has the power of teaching, let him make use of it;

8He who has the power of comforting, let him do so; he who gives, let him give freely; he who has the power of ruling, let him do it with a serious mind; he who has mercy on others, let it be with joy.

9Let love be without deceit. Be haters of what is evil; keep your minds fixed on what is good.

10Be kind to one another with a brother's love, putting others before yourselves in honour;

11Be not slow in your work, but be quick in spirit, as the Lord's servants;

12Being glad in hope, quiet in trouble, at all times given to prayer,

13Giving to the needs of the saints, ready to take people into your houses.

14Give blessing and not curses to those who are cruel to you.

15Take part in the joy of those who are glad, and in the grief of those who are sorrowing.

16Be in harmony with one another. Do not have a high opinion of yourselves, but be in agreement with common people. Do not give yourselves an air of wisdom.

17Do not give evil for evil to any man. Let all your business be well ordered in the eyes of all men.

18As far as it is possible for you be at peace with all men.

19Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord.

20But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head.

21Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.

Romans 13

1Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.

2For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

3For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

4For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer.

5So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

6For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.

7Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

8Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.

9And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

10Love does no wrong to his neighbour, so love makes the law complete.

11See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

12The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,

13With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.

14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires.

Bible in Basic English (BBE). Bible in Basic English (BBE), public domain in the United States.