Paul ends our text with the recommendation to overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. [1] Paul has given us a way to react to those who do evil to us. It is a very counter-cultural, unexpected way to respond. As we believe in Jesus, …
Have you ever considered reconciliation as spiritual warfare? The devil desperately wants to keep us divided. Division in the church casts a shadow on our message of Jesus as Savior. If we who claim to follow Jesus can’t get along, how will anyone? In Romans 12, Paul urges us to genuinely love each other (v9), …
To be able to bless those who persecute is only possible because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We need supernatural help to love others in challenging circumstances. Perhaps someone has hurt you, and the Lord is calling you to bless that person. It is nearly impossible without God’s help to …
Our future is in God’s hands because our hope is in Him. Most people may think about the future and make plans, but that usually extends only to this lifetime. Our lives are finite, and we don’t know what tomorrow will hold. Proverbs 27:1 Don’t brag about tomorrow since you don’t know what the day …
In Romans 12, Paul gives specific examples of how we are called to serve due to our faith in Jesus. Joining the military is often viewed as a call to serve our country. We understand that a person may be putting their life on the line by putting on a uniform. Those in the military …
Changing the way you think is one of the most powerful ways to transform your life, but it is also challenging. A common theme in the Scriptures is that the Lord is a God of intervention who works through the Holy Spirit to make us aware we are on the wrong path. Our enemy works …
Giving your body to the Lord is what Paul calls us to do in Romans 12:1, but what does that mean? We have many choices in life, and our sinful nature wants us to use our bodies to follow our dreams and evil desires. Following our dreams or desires sounds romantic, but when we do, …
If salvation is a free gift from Jesus, why won’t people believe? There are forces at work in people’s hearts that block their understanding. While we can’t make anyone choose one way or another, we can pray for them, and it helps to know what might be blocking obstacles. However, we should never pray in …
Paul’s idea of who can be saved differs significantly from the world’s. Most people think they must find favor with God by doing something. All religions, except Christianity, teach a way to earn salvation. They expect to be approved by God based on how they live, or because of what they do, on the assumption …
Paul uses timeless truth to back up his explanation of the Gospel. Paul quotes four Old Testament texts in the nine verses of Romans 10:9-17. He addressed the Jews here as he attempted to show that Jesus and His work had been prophesied and, as such, should be believed. We can gain more insight as …