Romans 13:13-14, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Now Paul describes the opposite lifestyle: deeds of darkness, in which those who follow Christ should no longer participate. These things don’t fit with who we are or the time in which we live. Paul urges us to walk as if it were daytime instead of taking part in the things that people usually do under the cover of darkness.

What should daytime people no longer do? Debauchery and drunkenness describe a lifestyle of reckless partying. Sexual immorality and sensuality are the focus of those seeking personal pleasure above the good of others. Quarreling and jealousy are both about the need to serve ourselves first and best.

When Paul uses the word “flesh,” he means more than just sexual immorality. He means all the human appetites we experience to feel good, to get what we want, and to be treated well. Instead, as Jesus did, we must put others first and trust God to provide for us in ways that bring Him glory.

Are you trusting God to supply your every need or trying to do it all for yourself today? 

Romans 13:12, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

We don’t have time to waste. Because of the nearing dawn, Paul writes, Christians must throw away any works of darkness, any of the worthless things we have done that belong to the night and not to the day. 

Instead, Paul insists, Christians must prepare for the day by putting on the weapons of light. Suddenly, Paul introduced the concept of Christians taking a defensive position against the darkness rather than joining with it. The Christian life is a battle, and we stand firm together, we move forward together, pushing back the darkness. 

Those in Christ no longer belong to the night. We are people of light, and that must change how we live in this critical moment.

Romans 13:11, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

Paul has previously described what it means to live as a Christian on this side of eternity, giving us a series of commands, many of them difficult to follow. Paul has painted a picture of a believer as a person who sets himself aside for the good of others and radically trusts God to provide all that is needed.

Why it is so essential for Christians to live this way? Because time is of the essence. The world is changing right now. Paul writes to the Roman Christians that the hour has come for them to wake up, in the sense that the sun is about to rise. It’s time to get to work.

The New Testament often describes salvation as something that has happened, is happening, and will happen. In this case, Paul is referring to salvation in the sense that all who are in Christ will have reached eternity, and that the time of ultimate victory and judgment is fast approaching.

Paul believed that day could come at any time. Two thousand years later, we are still looking forward to it. Let’s move forward together in eager anticipation of Christ’s return!

Romans 13:9-10, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

The Pentateuch contains over 600 laws (613 if you want to count them). The State of Texas Transportation Code of Vehicles and Traffic only contains 454 laws, yet we struggle not only to remember them but to keep them. Aren’t you glad that God has simplified the requirements to make it simpler to be obedient to Him?

Similarly, when a trap was set for Jesus by asking which was the greatest commandment, His answer was “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22: 37-39) If we start here and make a great effort to genuinely keep these, so many other issues of life fall into place. We won’t lie, cheat, kill, or skip church on Sunday to watch the football game. When our hearts are turned toward Him and rightly toward others, these issues are resolved through having the mind of Christ and living a transformed life, not checking off a list.

Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

David’s top priority in life was his relationship with the Lord. Although he was in the wilderness seeking refuge from his enemies, David’s heart was in the tabernacle seeking the beauty of God. He longed to return to the Tabernacle and spend the rest of his life in worship. Sometimes trouble drives us closer to the Lord and makes us more desirous of worshiping Him in the fellowship of other believers.

Is it a priority to you to worship the Lord? Do you prioritize time in His house, on His day with His people? God calls us to this. God calls us to be sanctified – set apart – different. This is the kind of person God uses to build His kingdom, and this is how we move forward together.

Romans 13:8, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

The apostle Paul was emphatic: we should not go into debt to anyone. Paul emphasized that we should have only one ongoing debt: we must love one another. We love because God loved us first and demonstrated that love through Jesus. Since God loves us, we should love one another. Loving our neighbor fulfills the legal requirements of God’s laws in the Torah because it is the underlying principle of the Law. However, our ultimate “debt” is to Jesus. While He gave us the gift of grace, love, mercy, and salvation freely, the Lord is emphatic: God’s love should lead us to share our love with others. We can’t claim to love God, Whom we haven’t seen, and not love each other whom we have seen. It’s that simple. As we move forward together, our only debt is to love others as we have been loved!

2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Like the Apostle Paul, we should praise the Lord for His grace in saving us. Nothing else in our lives can compare to the salvation we receive when we place faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We can also show our gratitude to God by giving help to others. The believers in Corinth lived out their faith by giving to others. We, who are rich in Christ, should be the most generous when meeting the needs of others.

How will you express your thankfulness to God today? Will your gratitude be displayed in ways that others can see and glorify your Father?

Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

As Paul writes to the believers in Rome, Nero was the emperor of all the Roman Empire. Say what you will about the authorities under which God has placed you; your parents, teachers, employers, law enforcement, the government. How do they stack up compared to Nero? As Paul was writing this letter and telling believers that all authority is given by God, they watched as Nero took Christians and dipped them alive in hot wax and used their bodies as candles to light his garden. They knew the atrocities that happened for his entertainment at the coliseum as believers were eaten by lions in the arena. But Paul’s Life had not been a cakewalk either. He had been beaten, imprisoned, and presumed dead in an attempted execution, and was writing this letter from a prison cell. All the while, the commandment to obey our authority didn’t change. 

We don’t obey those in authority because we like them. We don’t obey them because we agree with their politics or positions. We submit to their authority because God placed them over us and by obeying them, we are ultimately obeying God. 

Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Look at the world around you.  There is plenty of evil, isn’t there?  Do you ever feel like evil is bringing you down or even taking you out?  Does it ever seem like you are being overcome by it?  True Christians, according to Paul, can live IN IT without being overcome by it.  How?  By clinging to the God who is light shining in the darkness.  The darkness cannot overcome Him (John 1:5).

Rooting ourselves in the gospel gives us power. Our wicked hearts naturally lean toward evil and sinful things.  However, we have a God who paid it all for us. He empowers us, by His grace, to change and live differently.  Continually treasuring the cross of Jesus Christ keeps us from evil. It also empowers us to triumph over evil.  We can overcome evil with good.

We have good in Christ.  We have His good if our faith is in Him.  Evil can have its way with the world, but It cannot have its way with the Christian! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, completely dominating Satan and his evil schemes, lives in us (Romans 8:11).  That power is what enables us to overcome evil with good.  

Romans 12:20, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

What does this strange little phrase mean: “heap coals of fire on his head?” There is actually a fair bit of debate about what this little phrase might mean, but one suggestion is this: In ancient times when a city was besieged, the people of that city would throw down burning liquid or coals onto their enemy to prevent them from scaling the walls. If your hair is on fire, it’s hard to use your sword, and if your face is burning, it’s pretty tough to aim your bow and arrow.

The principle as it relates to loving our enemies is this: When you oppose your enemy with love, they find it difficult to keep on attacking. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Does that mean we sit by and say nothing? No! But our answer must be gentle and humble.

Psalm 14:1-2, “(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”

Scripture is clear that those who reject God’s existence—or live as if He does not exist—are recklessly irrational. The “fool” of this type is characterized by animal stereotypes (Psalm 49:20) such as donkeys and mules.

Rejecting or dismissing God’s existence is corrupt and leads to an evil life. Even those respected as good citizens are depraved fools if they reject the truth that God exists. Such a person lacks spiritual wisdom, so they are incapable of doing anything that pleases the Lord. Their heart is wicked. Their head lacks spiritual knowledge. Such a person continues to be entirely depraved, meaning every part of their being has been marred by sin.

Without God, we are good for nothing. Are you thankful for a God who saves us from our sin?

Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

When we step in to avenge our own problems, we are only getting in the way of letting God take care of the problem for us. Do you really believe that you can do a better job of dealing with your enemy than God can? If you defend yourself, then the Lord can’t defend you. Leave it in His hands. God is infinitely capable and exact in working vengeance in His perfect time. Be patient; wait on the Lord and trust in Him. He will keep His promises. Keep moving forward and don’t look back!

Romans 12:17-18, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

A Christian who lives out his faith in front of the world WILL have enemies. Jesus did. Paul did. Getting even is in our DNA, but that is because we are sinful, fallen human beings with a sinful nature. Revenge is not a fruit of the Spirit! Verbal, emotional, or physical payback is not an option for the Christian. Aside from being backed into a corner where self-defense is necessary, if there is an escape available, take it. The Lord Jesus did not get even with his enemies. Neither did Paul.

The Christian must not play God and try to avenge himself. Returning evil for evil, or good for good, is the way most people live. But the Christian must live on a higher level and return good for evil. Of course, this requires love, because our first inclination is to fight back. It also requires faith, believing God can work and accomplish His will in our lives and in the lives of those who hurt us. We have to let God fight our battles for us, believing He can and will take care of our problems!

Romans 12:16, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

“Be of the same mind” is Paul’s encouragement to us that we should do our absolute best to agree and live in harmony with each other. Is that an easy thing to do? Of course not! If it was, Paul would not have needed to bring up the subject.

My childhood pastor would frequently quote this poem from the pulpit:

          To dwell above with saints we love,

          Oh! That will be glory.

          But to dwell below with the saints we know,

          Now that’s a different story!

Be careful that we make an effort to be agreeable people. That doesn’t mean that we can’t have a difference of opinion, or that we will always be without conflict. It does mean that it is our goal to not be a source of conflict and to instead create peace among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

There is no better way to show love to anyone than to feel with them and to share in their emotions. I think Paul must have put “rejoice with those who rejoice” first because it is so much more difficult to do. It isn’t very hard to weep with those who weep. Our hearts naturally go out to people who are suffering pain or loss. We can put ourselves in their place and feel the hurt that they are feeling. But rejoicing with those who rejoice–that’s the tougher one. What was your first response when you were passed over for a promotion and salary increase, and it was given to someone you felt was less deserving than you?

You probably felt about the same way the rest of us have felt – jealous, envious, selfish. “It’s just not fair. I deserve it more than they do. Why don’t good things ever happen to me?” And then there are those people who make it especially hard for us to rejoice with them because while they are rejoicing, they also seem to be bragging about their brilliant performance and exceptional abilities, or gloating over their good fortune. It’s not reasonable to ask me to rejoice with them. In fact, it’s not even possible!

Not possible, of course, unless we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds, unless we are learning to think as God thinks. It might be good to remind ourselves that they are family – fellow members of the family of God. We can usually rejoice when good things happen to family members. It might also be good to remember that we are members of the same body, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:26). When my mouth enjoys a good steak, the rest of my body doesn’t get jealous about it. And the same thing can be true of the spiritual body. We are a team, and we move forward, rejoicing or weeping, together.

Romans 12:14, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

To bless people is to ask God to send them His favor, to give them peace and prosper them. On the other hand, to curse them is to ask God not to send His favor on them, and maybe even to intervene and send something terrible into their lives.

Think of someone who has made life unpleasant for you. A teacher who always picks on you and blames you for things other people do. People who seem to have it in for you and criticize you or make you look bad every chance they get. A boss who doesn’t like you, who gives you all the toughest jobs to do and then gripes about the way you do them. Co-workers who constantly challenge your opinion and make you feel stupid and worthless. Neighbors who are always complaining about something you’re doing wrong–letting your leaves fall in their yard, parking your car in front of their house, or whatever it is.

I’ve had people like that in my life. People who have willfully distorted what I have said to put me in a bad light. People who have gossiped about me and spread false rumors about me behind my back. People who have criticized me severely and misjudged my motives. And I have to tell you, I didn’t feel very kind toward them. I don’t remember asking God to lavish His favor on them, send them peace, or prosper them. In my flesh, I would have been just as happy if they had dropped dead. Is Paul really serious about this? Am I supposed to pray for God’s blessing on their lives? That’s impossible!

Impossible, that is, unless we’ve yielded our wills to Christ, and we’re being transformed by changing our thinking patterns, by renewing our minds with His Word. It’s perfectly human to want some harm to come to them. That’s the way the people of the world think. That’s the way our sinful human nature responds. The only way we will respond differently is to keep drinking in the Word, studying it with an open mind, allowing it to expose our shortcomings, and letting it mold our way of thinking. We need to adopt God’s point of view. Are you willing to be like Jesus? I know it sounds like an impossible dream. But it is possible if we begin to renew our minds with God’s Word and learn to think as He thinks. We show our love by seeking the best for those who harm us.

Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Just looking at the majesty, glory, and splendor of the stars in the sky as a kid, I just couldn’t see how anyone would ever say that God does not exist. When NASA put the Hubble telescope in orbit around the Earth back in 1990, it produced the most stunning pictures of stars, planets, nebulae, and more. These are all just part- a small part!- of the glory of God. The Shekinah Glory of God – the visible presence of God that hovered above Israel in the wilderness as a pillar of fire, and above the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle, is only a mere sliver of the glory of God, and it was an incredible sight to behold.

So, the next time you look to the skies at night, especially if you are in a place where you can really see the stars, remember you are beholding some of the glory of God. It will be surpassed by the glory of God that we will see when we meet Jesus face to face; however, if you want to see even greater glory than this, discover God within the pages of the Holy Scripture!

Romans 12:13, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

How well do you know your church family? Do you keep up with their prayer needs? How about the physical needs of the members of your church? Paul encourages us to know and be known in our church body so we can be the first resource for meeting each other’s needs as they come up. This requires a level of intentionality. It doesn’t just happen through attending a worship service once a week and making a quick exit.

In order to fulfill our God-given role as church members, we have to choose to spend time getting to know others in the church body. This happens in Sunday School classes, activities, and Bible Study events, but it also happens over a cup of coffee or a shared meal. When was the last time you extended an invitation to someone outside your normal circle of friends to spend a bit of time getting to know them within the church? Be intentional in getting to know those around you in your church. 

Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”

It isn’t normal for us to be patient when we have problems. When the car breaks down or we become ill, we want a quick solution. That may be natural but remember that our fleshly nature is a sinful nature. God has called us to a transformed life – one that looks different because we are His children!

So, what do we do when trouble strikes? Don’t run looking for solutions before you run to your Savior! Make prayer your first line of defense! Hold on to the hope that whatever situation you are in will bring God glory. Be patient and wait upon the Lord. Remember: God did not place you here to face life alone. He not only gave you His Holy Spirit as the Comforter, but He gave you a church to live in community so you can move forward even in difficult times together.

Romans 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

One of the worst testimonies a believer can have is to be lazy! Your employer will see it, your co-workers will see it, and they will be repulsed by the contradiction you live when you profess Jesus Christ. Paul challenges us in this verse to be the model of an eager employee! Show up early for your shift. Do more than you have been asked to do. Pay attention to the details. Care about the work as if you owned the company and the customers were your very own.

In doing so, you have the opportunity to model Christ in your workplace. You get to show others what it means to live a transformed life! Being a witness for Christ at your job rarely starts with your words; it starts with your actions. Work as unto the Lord and others will take note.

Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

The love of God, demonstrated by Jesus on the cross, is our foundation for how to treat others. We are to be devoted—committed—to other Christians; to act selflessly. We are to honor each other (regardless of status, position, or any other factor) because we are all precious children of God, our Father.

When we honor others above ourselves, we are not doing so from a place of weakness, but rather from the strength that comes from knowing we are useful, wanted, unique individuals in the family of God. We can only move forward together when we have each other’s backs and think of others first. A “me first” attitude will bring defeat. A great song from my childhood said:

          Jesus,

          Others, &

          You…

What a wonderful way to spell JOY!

A joy-filled life is ahead of the believer who follows Christ, putting others before themselves!

Romans 12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

It’s obvious we are to love each other. Paul doesn’t even begin by telling believers they are to treat each other with love. Instead, he issues the challenge to make sure our love is genuine and not hypocritical. If we are offering our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1), then this should seem like a minor adjustment – a tune-up along the way.

It’s easy to love the “loveable,” but humility and empathy are required for living alongside others in such a way as to bless those who persecute, to rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep, and to associate with the lowly. Paul echoes the teaching of Jesus, who said, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27-28). Let’s be sure we move forward in love, not just towards other believers but the lost.

Psalm 3:1-3, “(A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.) LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

David is fleeing from a massive army, sent by his own son, Absalom. Those around David were writing David’s situation off as hopeless. And yet, as he had in the past, David successfully overcame his enemies’ threats and taunts by trusting in the Lord.

He addresses the Lord as a shield around him, his glory, and the lifter up of his head. Just as a shield protects a warrior from swords, arrows, darts, and spears, so David envisions the Lord protecting him from his enemies. This is the same confidence David expressed as a youth when he confronted Goliath. At that time, he called out to Goliath, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand…for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45–47).

The Lord was David’s boast, and David fully expected Him to restore him to his position as king of Israel. What confidence do you have in God to deliver you out of your troubles? Do you trust Him even when others say it’s time to throw in the towel? Fear holds us back and keeps us looking over our shoulders. Trusting God allows us not to be paralyzed but to move forward under His protective cover.

Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

The thief of joy is comparison. It’s easy to start looking around at other people and start seeing something they have that we don’t – maybe it’s a skill, a physical trait, or an actual possession. To move forward together, we must recognize that God made no mistakes when He gave us our talents, abilities, and physical characteristics. We are all made in His likeness and for His glory!

Child of God, recognize that God gave you your gifts to serve together as a critical part of a team. No one else is equipped to do the job He called you to do, so get busy doing what God has created you to do! Be a faithful, integral part of your church body, knowing that God added you to the body to do a job designed specifically for you.

Romans 12:3-5, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Coaches are fond of the saying, “There’s no ‘I’ in ‘TEAM,’” and similarly, Paul gives a strong warning to us to be careful not to have an exaggerated sense of self-esteem. It’s in our DNA to think about ourselves first, but our new nature, our redeemed, spirit-led nature should look differently from that. Instead, Paul tells us to be level-headed and give ourselves a fair evaluation. Don’t think of yourself as a big shot. You haven’t arrived yet! Everyone else around you that God has placed in His church has talents, abilities, and giftings, and are all different one from another. You, like them, have your share of shortcomings too. We don’t get to measure ourselves with our own yardstick, but with the standard of faith God has set forth in His Word.

Paul challenges us to think of the various ways in which each distinct individual is able to be a blessing to others and to the church in general by using the particular gift with which, in association with faith, God has endowed him or her. He is instructing each of those addressed to recognize the diversity of gifts amid the unity of faith, and to ask, “How can I make the best use of my gift so as to benefit each and all?” We move forward together as a team, not as individuals.

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

After Paul has spent the first half of the letter to the church at Rome giving them sound doctrine, we find these verses at the turning point where he begins with a practical application. He begins to answer the question, “What should be the believer’s attitude toward God?” Paul emphasizes how important it is that we understand this principle with the opening phrase, “I beseech you,” which might as well say, “You’ve got to believe me!” The idea that a believer would surrender themselves wholly to the Lord is not something Paul considers radical, but elementary to the born-again believer.

Paul doesn’t just tell us what the goal is – the living sacrifice – he gives us practical steps on what not to do and what to do if we are going to succeed: Do not let the world tell you who you are! You have been bought with a price, and that price is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit transform you and change who you are into the likeness of Christ, and in so doing, you will be ready to move forward discerning God’s will for your life.