Day 210

2 Chronicles 24:1–25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10

WE’VE JOURNEYED ONWARD and upward with the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He’s laid out his arguments and given us a broad and sweeping panorama of our faith that is awe-inspiring —as it should be. But how do we take these things and make them practical and effective parts of our lives? Thankfully, Paul counseled on this today, reminding us that first and foremost, we are to be living sacrifices to God. This is actual, practical, and true worship (Romans 12:1). Living from this place will allow us to know God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives (Romans 12:2). If we skip the living-sacrifice part, we’ll obscure the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God for our lives. But is there any way to know we are getting it right?

We could simply paste the entirety of Romans 12 here, and it would speak clearly and more eloquently than anything that could be written about it, so let’s consider Paul’s words in light of our own lives. Spend time with the following list of what it looks like to follow God. Take inventory: Check off things you feel you are doing well, and leave blank things that need work. Then invite the Holy Spirit into this as you repent! And yes, we all need to repent. Remember, the word repent fundamentally means to change your mind.* How can we walk a more perfect and pleasing path without change?

• “Don’t think you are better than you really are.” (Romans 12:3)
• “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.” (Romans 12:9)
• “Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
• “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:10)
• “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” (Romans 12:11)
• “Rejoice in our confident hope.” (Romans 12:12)
• “Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Romans 12:12)
• “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.” (Romans 12:13)
• “Always be eager to practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:13)
• “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.” (Romans 12:14)
• “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)
• “Live in harmony with each other.” (Romans 12:16)
• “Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.” (Romans 12:16)
• “Don’t think you know it all!” (Romans 12:16)
• “Never pay back evil with more evil.” (Romans 12:17)
• “Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.” (Romans 12:17)
• “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
• “Never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.” (Romans 12:19)
• “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.” (Romans 12:20)

We need to keep coming back to this list. It’s a road map to what it looks like to be a living sacrifice. It’s also the essence of what life is supposed to be like —how we are to be in this world. In doing so, we will be obeying Paul’s final counsel from Romans 12:

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

MEDITATION:

The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.