Romans 12: Molded by Mercy

Key Verse
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
 
 
Meditation
Seeing God’s mercy is the catalyst for a life of worship, offering our whole selves as a living sacrifice to Jesus (v. 1). Today’s reading reveals five ways mercy remakes our hearts, renews our minds, and re-orders our loves.
 
                Mercy molds how we love God:
By mercy, believers are no longer conformed to the patterns of this world but are transformed by the renewing of their minds.  Worship becomes a way of life, as our loves are lifted from lesser things to God and His glory (vv. 1-2).
 
               Mercy molds how we love ourselves:
God’s mercy humbles us without crushing us. We see ourselves truthfully, neither inflated with pride nor diminished by shame, but as recipients of grace, freed to live with sober judgment and deep joy (vv. 3-4).
 
              Mercy molds how we love the church:
The body of Christ is one, yet beautifully diverse. Mercy frees us from comparison and competition, empowering us to embrace our gifts as grace, given to be stewarded for the good of the whole (vv. 5-8).
 
             Mercy molds how we love one another:
Love becomes sincere, shaped by truth and marked by affection, honor, zeal, patience, generosity, empathy, and unity. Love for one another is an overflow of a heart reshaped by mercy (vv. 9-16).
 
            Mercy molds how we love our enemies:
Having received mercy, we no longer repay evil for evil. We pursue peace, relinquish vengeance, and overcome evil with good to reflect the very mercy we have been given (vv. 17-21).
 
A life of worship is by mercy, transforming our loves to reflect God’s own.
 
Today’s Reading
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially how seeing God’s mercy remakes us and re-orders our loves?
 
-Which re-ordered love is most difficult for you: God, self, the Church, other Christians, or enemies?
 
-Where do you need to allow mercy to mold your heart and life more, being transformed by God’s work in Jesus rather than conformed to the world? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.