Continuing Our Mission to Continually Renew Our Mind!
Last session we looked at Romans 12:1-8, and spent some time on the theme of renewing the mind, as well as how our spiritual gifts make each of us an important contributor to the body of Christ.
This week we will wrap up Romans 12, where Paul gives us a number of ways in which God would like us to devote our lives to loving one another sincerely, and even through the challenges that relationships can present.
In Romans 12:9-13 we are encouraged to live with open, servant hearts
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Referring back to our umbrella of ACT therapy, you could say that these verses help remind us of our values, and living according to our values. Romans 12 is a blueprint for Christian values like love, service, peace, and humility.
While living according to our values may be the ideal, and while most anyone would say at any given time that that is their goal, it isn’t always easy, right? Relationships can be challenging for sure. We each bring years and decades of our baggage, our hurts, and our disappointments, both in others and in ourselves. Our history can make us guarded and anxious in our relationships.
Paul recognizes these realities, and goes right after them next! Let’s read on!
In Romans 12:14-21 Paul reminds us to do what we can to stay connected to our values, and in so doing to foster healthy connections, even in the face of challenges
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,” says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
These are some challenging verses! Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone? All the time? Every day? Even the person who cuts you off in traffic?
We know perfectly well that the Bible teaches how to live. It provides the guidelines.
And we know perfectly well that life can be challenging.
How easy is it to live in peace with everyone when you’re struggling to even get enough sleep? Or just lost your job, or can’t find a job to begin with? Or have a job, but still aren’t making enough to make ends meet? Or are struggling in important relationships?
The answer is that it is not easy. It is not easy to be forgiving and patient and harmonious sometimes.
So how then can we seek to simply just do better?
We are big believers in recognizing the challenges inherent in living in this broken world. It is a central tenant of ACT therapy: Accept that life can be difficult.
Once we make peace with the fact that life will present challenges, over and over, we can then:
First: give yourself grace.
While Paul is indeed holding us to a very high standard, we know that we are saved by grace. We know we don’t have to perform to be saved, or to be loved. Do you want to always be trying to do your best? Of course. But when your best is just so-so? If you know you’re doing your best, then give yourself grace.
We rarely improve because we beat ourselves up. We improve when we feel loved and safe. So give yourself grace, know that you are loved. Give yourself some self-care, and know that you can try again as many times as it takes.
Second: seek to find those practices and habits that will help you stay grounded in your faith.
You know that feeling you get when you feel really grounded and tuned in at church or when listening to a worship song, or maybe even in nature when you just experience the splendor and glory of God’s creation?
Seek those moments. Whether it’s reading your Bible, participating in a Bible study with friends, praying, or worship music. Find those practices and habits that help you connect with the truth.
It may take time to know what they are, but that’s okay. Just be a seeker. In time, as you keep seeking, you’ll discover some habits just really help fill your cup, and you want to keep doing them! And then: keep doing them!
Third: grow your community.
Faith doesn’t grow very well in a vacuum, but it can thrive in Christian community!
The more that you can connect with others also seeking to grow their faith and their community, the easier you will find it to build habits and feel loved and supported- especially when life feels hard.
That can be something like the Ready to Hope outpost, a Rooted or Bible study group, or maybe even a small group of coworkers who are also seeking.
Just like building habits, it may take time to find your people. But it’s absolutely worth the time and effort, so keep working at it! And know that we’d love to help you! Even if you don’t ultimately find that Ready to Hope are your people, we are very okay with that- we just want you to find them!
To check out our outpost, you can click on over to the link here on the Mercy Road page!
Romans 12 is a beautiful guidebook for how to make your life “a living sacrifice to God,” in such a way that you feel lit from within and connected to love.
It won’t always be easy, but nothing truly worth it is easy. And you have people who want to see you succeed. Please never hesitate to reach out!
Until next time, know that we are praying for your heart, your mental wellness, and your spiritual growth in community!