Romans 12 - Thursday 9th May

Today’s chapter is Romans 12

Tom writes:

When you humbly love the church you are joining Paul in a doxology of devotion to the wisdom of God. That was the conclusion of Romans 11. Paul rams that home in this stupendous section. He tells us what it looks like to love the church. In our individualistic West we have suggested being a “living sacrifice” is all about personal holiness; we are told not to swear or be naughty in bed. That saddens me because in this chapter Paul’s only application of being a “living sacrifice” is to devote yourself to others in the church. Devoting ourselves to one another includes our words and our sex lives but it is so much more than that. It involves deliberate effort to bring gifts into the church. As Vineyard churches we do all we can to celebrate “everyone gets to play”; every person is precious and necessary for a healthy body of Christ. So, do you play? Do you gather with other believers to serve them with your gifts? Secondly, living sacrifices show hospitality to the church, especially to people of lower station than ourselves. This hospitality isn’t just about having people into your house; it is about an attitude of sharing. Share rejoicing with people who are rejoicing. Share mourning with people who are mourning.

Sharing stuff with people when they are in need. Do you do this? Have you learned to read people and adjust your behaviour to create harmony with them? Every such hymn of harmony is heard by Holy Spirit and warmly celebrated by him. So we bring our gifts, we show hospitality and then we devote ourselves to people even when they are really annoying. Even in church people will do evil to you. It will hurt a lot and you will be tempted to get them back. Or to step back. Paul calls, instead, us to lean back in trust on the justice of God. Chapter 2 told us about the wrath of God rolling like a river, bringing in its flow restitution and rebuke. Wait for that. Trust in that. God sees you. He will one day make it good. And while you wait for that time, do good to the church. Choose to be a living sacrifice by devoting yourself to the church. It is an act of worship that’s deeply pleasing to God.

Question for reflection

How could you devote yourself more sacrificially to Jesus’ church?

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