#247 THE LIFE THAT LOOKS LIKE JESUS 10-7-26
Romans 12 does not begin and end with the familiar words about presenting our bodies and renewing our minds. Paul keeps going, and what follows is remarkably practical. He begins to describe what a transformed life actually looks like when it walks into the world.
A HUMBLE HEART
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). The Christian life begins to change us when we stop making ourselves the center of everything. We are members of one body, and “individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5).
There is no room for spiritual pride when we understand grace. Whatever gift we possess, we received it. Whatever good we accomplish, God gave us the opportunity. “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than you should. It means thinking rightly about yourself while remembering that Christ is Lord of the whole body.
A SERVING HAND
Paul then starts naming the gifts God has given His people. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6). If you can teach, teach. If you can serve, serve. If you can encourage, encourage. If you can give, give. If you can lead, lead. If you can show mercy, do it cheerfully (Romans 12:7–8).
Notice those words: let us use them.
God never intended His people to sit on the sidelines while the world goes by. There is somebody who needs what God has placed in you. “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Christianity is not merely something we believe on Sunday. It is something we practice on Monday.
A LOVING SPIRIT
Then Paul reaches even deeper: “Let love be without hypocrisy” (Romans 12:9). Love must be genuine. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).
And then comes one of the hardest commands in the chapter: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14). We are not called merely to love people who love us. Jesus changes the rules of retaliation.
Paul finally says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
That is the life that looks like Jesus. A humble heart. A serving hand. A loving spirit.
The world knows how to answer hatred with hatred. Christ teaches us a better way. The world knows how to repay evil. The Christian learns how to overcome it.
May people see something different in us because they have seen something of Jesus in us.
________________
Lord, make our hearts humble, our hands willing, and our love genuine. Help us use whatever gifts You have given us to serve others and glorify You. Teach us to bless those who hurt us, to overcome evil with good, and to live in such a way that people see Jesus in us. In His name, Amen.
BDD
