Monday 10^th December

Romans 12:9-21 

So far in this passage the Apostle Paul has highlighted some keys areas of what it means to be a CHRISTian. He has made those listening/reading this passage aware that being a CHRISTian is not some fruitless title but it is living a life purely to become more like Christ in both word and deed to both friend and foe.

We pick up the final part of this passage from verse 16. Living a harmonious life with those you sometimes might not get along with is vital in a Christian’s life. I believe that Paul had ‘church’ life in mind when he wrote this section. So often in churches will meet many who would not be in our normal social circles. We may meet people in church we might not, dare I say, even like. Yet there is one common thing that unites us, that is the bond of Jesus Christ and His love. See when Christ lives in us, He unites us in a common faith to get to the common goal of reaching the world for Him. Paul reminds the Roman church that it is in unity and harmonious living that the world sees Jesus through His ‘body of believers’.

Yet even in Paul’s day and most certainly in ours, the church is often seen as a fragmented institution through differing opinions and super proud leaders rather than an image of unified peoples. Yet it is in humble living and associating with those who we may not normally associate with, that these invisible yet visible boundaries are broken down. God shows no partiality to anyone and has no favourites. Jesus proved this in His living and teaching, to the lowly tax collectors and to the supposedly ‘Holy’ Pharisees and Scribes. If God’s standard is Jesus, then we all fall short of that, which makes us all equal, both saint and sinner. For even our righteousness is as a filthy rag (Isaiah 64:6). However, God’s love is consistent from the greatest sinners to the most holy saints. This is not to say that we should just give up trying to be like Christ but rather Christ in us and through us is our “Righteousness” which is shown in our lifestyles.

Paul summarises his point, in verse 17 and 18, about humble living; by not paying back evil with evil but rather seeing the best in every situation and in everyone. Jesus was the Master of this. Instead of seeing and focusing on people’s sinful ways, He saw a potential in them and how they can be used for His kingdom. Look at the Apostles Paul and Peter, and tax collectors Zacchaeus and Matthew. God sees potential in sometimes the most unlikely of people and uses them for His purposes. For this reason we should live peaceably with all people, loving them as our family, serving them with pure hearts, not taking revenge but rather putting their needs before our own, entrusting them to our Saviour’s Gracious care.

Finally the ‘why’ is answered in verse 20. When we set an example in all the things a Romans 12 CHRISTian should do we not only put shame on those who wrong the right, but more so that the world may see Jesus through His ‘church’ (John 13:35).

The standard might look unreachable or impossible and on our own it is. But when the Holy Spirit lives in us, not only is it reachable in our lifestyles but also we have the power to change the world for Christ’s Kingdom and Glory.