Christian Living

Romans 12:9 (NLT)

Don't just pretend that you love others, really love them.

Hate what is wrong.

Stand on the side that is good. 

We all have at least one gift

Gifts

Romans 12:6-9(NLT)
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Thought
We should know our gift(s) and use them. It pleases God greatly.

Romans 12:3-5

Romans 12:3-5 (NL)
As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

Thought
Do you ever feel that you are better than you are? I, myself, usually have the problem of feeling like I am nothing, down on myself, but we are warned today to not things better of ourselves then we ought. If we think more highly than we ought this brings pride. The Lord hates pride. We are to be humble.

Review of what we have read so far:

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
And so, dear brothers and sister, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do,  and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Our Service To God Part 2

• Our bodies-Our whole selves-free well-service to God-holy-act of worship.
• Be transformed by renewing of mind-conversion-setting ourselves apart from the world-dying to sin and living to righteousness-being transformed into the likeness of Christ. 
• Can be done by the transforming influences of the Holy Spirit. 
• Be pressing forward towards perfection. 

Ephesians 4:24

"...and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. "

*Information is taken from NIV Matthew Henry Commentary and New King James Bible

Duty To God

Romans 12:1-2
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. 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.

Thought
We are to give our bodies to God. We are to let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will accept. By surrendering ourselves to God, which gives us a good foundation. This is a voluntary act. It must be a free-will offering. Using our bodies as a servant of the soul in the service of God. Yield our bodies as instruments of righteousness. By doing so gives proof of the dedication of our souls to God. It is Christ living in the soul by faith that makes the body a living sacrifice. Being alive to God. We are asked to be set apart from the world and set apart for God. Our bodies are to be used for a holy purpose.

Brothers and Sisters I Beseech You

How to live the Christian Life-Looking at Romans 12:1

Reference books used

1 John MacArthur book The MacArthur Bible Commentary as a reference book. 

2Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus In Dictionary Form

Romans 12:1
I beseech you, therefore, brethren,...

Comments
The Greek word beseech comes from a root word which means 1" to call alongside to help."2This word can also mean to plead.  Paul was speaking as a counselor to his readers pleading with them to do what was requested for them to do which we will find out in the next lesson. He wanted to encourage them. His readers are his brothers and sisters in Christ. 

 Conclusion
The verse could read as follows: I plead with you, therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ,

If we know something that is very important we too can come along side our brothers and sisters in Christ and encourage them to do what the Bible says to do. 

I Have So Much To Share

It seems like every time I start up again in doing this blog something comes along and I stop. I hope this is not going to happen again.

I enjoy sharing what the Lord is doing in my life. Hopefully, the things I share are an encouragement to those who read the post. The Lord has so good to me throughout knowing Him as my personal Savior, now it is 53 years. I must admit that all those years have not been fruitful years, but as I am growing older, just turned 72 on August 20th of this year, I truly look at my life and say, "Thank you, Jesus, for being with me all these years. 

I have been dealing a lot with many different health issues. The one that is bothering me most is not being able to sleep nights. I just received new medicine and it seems to be helping me a lot by calming my mind and moods. The pain in my feet also has gotten better so that I am not jumping around in bed with pain shooting up my legs. I have cut down on sugar, caffeine, so this has helped in lowering my blood sugar and pain.

I am going to be starting a study on the word slavery as I heard a message on this on Christian Radio WPEL the other day. Did you realize that we are all slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ? I had not thought of it that way but the word that is usually used is a servant.

So join me as we look together in God's Word and find out what a slave really is.

Any time you have any questions or remarks you would like to share just post them on this site and I will try to help you and share with others if you want. I read them first before they go onto the group.