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Romans 12:16 – Right-minded Thinking

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Will

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

Truth to Learn

Who we compare ourselves to affects what we think of ourselves.

Behind the Words

“Mind” is translated from the Greek word phroneō. According to Strong’s Dictionaries of Hebrew and Greek Words, his verb means “to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.” We might call it “having a mindset.”

The word “associate” is from sunapagō. This word is made up of sun, meaning “together,” apo, meaning “away from,” and agō, meaning “to carry” or “to lead.” Thus, we see that this word literally means “to carry away together” or “to take off together.” In a negative sense it means “to be led astray,” but in a positive sense it means “to be personally involved.”

Meaning Explained

The message of the current verse centers on the Greek word phroneo. A literal translation of this verse might be, “minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but taking off together with the lowly ones. Do not become conceited about yourselves.” As you can see, Paul is talking about how we think about ourselves and others within the body of Christ.

The crux of this verse is in the middle, “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.” It is fascinating to observe people in the presence of a celebrity. Everyone wants to be near the celebrity and to be his or her friend. But nobody wants to be the friend of the poor homeless person. This is not how it should be within the church, according to Paul. We should have the same regard for everyone independent of their social or economic status. I think if we get to the nut of this one, we will see that these improper attitudes are based on selfishness (how others can make us feel or what can be done for us) instead of self-less-ness (what we can do for others).

Keep in mind that Paul is talking about relationships within the body of Christ. That’s why he uses such words as “one another” and “within yourselves.” His basis for these things goes back to verse 3 of this chapter:

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, but to think of yourself with reasonable judgment, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

He closes the current verse with a command that basically says, “Don’t get hung-up on yourselves.” Becoming self-righteous is the result of comparing ourselves to others (usually with an inflated view of ourselves) instead of comparing ourselves with Christ. If becoming like Him is our objective, then none of us will get puffed-up because the One we are comparing ourselves to is so much greater than we are.

Application

If we are submitted to our Lord and committed to becoming like Him, then we will naturally treat others with the proper attitude knowing that we, like them, are merely sinners saved by grace.

And we get none of the glory because He gets all of the glory!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:15 – Give and Take

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Will

Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping.

Truth to Learn

Sharing in grief means taking, but sharing in joy means giving.

Behind the Words

“Rejoicing” comes from the Greek word chairo, which means “to be full of cheer, that is, calmly happy.” It was often used as a greeting or a parting salutation meaning “be well.” Today we mean essentially the same thing when we say “God bless you.”

The word translated “weeping” is the Greek word klaiein, a form of klaio, which according to The Word Study Dictionary means, “To weep, wail, or lament, implying not only the shedding of tears, but also every external expression of grief.”

Meaning Explained

As Paul has been teaching us, in Christ we are all part of one body, that is, we who are Christians. All members of the human race are not children of God, as many secularists and humanists would have us believe. In fact, here’s what Christ said to Pharisees in John 8:23:

You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

And in John 8:44:

You are of your father the devil, and want to do the desires of your father.

Just because someone claims to be a child of God does not make them so. Only those who have submitted to the authority of Jesus as Lord and have accepted his sacrificial death on the cross as payment for their sins can truly say, “I am part of the family of God; the body of Christ!” As we have seen in this twelfth chapter of Romans, membership in the body of Christ carries with it many responsibilities, including those identified by Paul in this verse.

Let’s look at the second half of this verse first. We are to weep with those who are weeping. What Paul is telling us is not to cry whenever someone in the body cries, for there are many reasons for us to cry. But, when that crying is from grief, we are to share in the grief of the suffering one by taking on some of that grief as our own. We are told by psychologists today that one of the ways a person can get over grief is to have others share in the expression of that grief with them.

The first half of this verse is actually the more difficult thing for Christians to do. We are to rejoice with those in the body who are rejoicing. The problem is that what we say and what we do are often two different things. It is easier to mourn with those who are mourning than to be happy with those who are happy. Instead, we often feel jealousy or envy toward those who have something to rejoice about. But this, my friend, is the sin of selfishness at work.

We all need to extend our sympathies and partake in the grief of members of the body of Christ who are grieving. But we also need to learn how to be truly joyful with those in the body who are experiencing joy.

Application

When we grieve with those who grieve we take to ourselves some of their grief. However, when we rejoice with those who rejoice, we are actually giving them some of our joy. And then, we give all the glory to God, for He deserves it! Let’s put these things into practice this week!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:13 – Pursuit of Generosity

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Will

distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

Truth to Learn

Selfless sharing is a sure sign of a committed Christian.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “distributing” is koinonointes, which is derived from the word koinonia, meaning “to have things in common” or “to share things with others.” Thus we see that the command is not to distribute to the less fortunate what the more fortunate have donated. Paul is telling us to give of our own possessions to meet the needs of others.

The word “needs” is from chreia, a form of chreos, meaning “a debt.” In the current usage, chreia refers to “that which someone is lacking or has need of.”

“Saints” is a translation of the Greek word hagios, meaning “something that inspires awe.” It is the word which is often translated as “holy” particularly in reference to the holiness of God. It also carries with it the notion of being “set apart.” Specifically, it refers to something that is set apart from common use and set apart to be used for God.

The word “pursuing” is from diōkō, meaning “to pursue” or “to persecute.”

Meaning Explained

Continuing on with Paul’s description of how Christians ought to live their lives, he says that we should be, “distributing to the needs of the saints.” Let us first address the term “saints.” It does not refer to someone who has been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church even though they are referred to by the Church as “saints;” instead, it refers to those who have been set apart by God, those who have been saved by God’s grace. Hence, all Christians are saints.

What we are told here is that we should willingly share what we have with fellow Christians who are in need. Even those of us who think we don’t have very much can share some of what we have with other Christians who have even less.

Paul also tells us that we should be pursuing hospitality, not just being willing to be hospitable, but actively pursuing such opportunities. This was a necessary virtue in the first century, when houses of public accommodation were scarce. It is not so much a necessity today in our society, which may be one reason why we have become more isolated from each other rather than more closely engaged with one another. One never knows who a stranger really is, for in the book of Hebrews we are told,

Do not neglect to be hospitable to strangers, for by so doing some have unknowingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2)

Also, in Matthew’s gospel Jesus taught:

The one receiving you receives Me, and the one receiving Me receives Him who sent Me. (Matthew 10:40)

If we are truly in God’s family then we should show all kindness in sharing with our brothers and sisters in the Lord!

Application

I have known some Christians who are constantly looking for opportunities to share what they have to meet the needs of others. These people are usually smiling. I have also seen Christians who hoard what they possess and seldom give to those in need. These people don’t seem to smile very often.

Do you smile a lot?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:12 – Guided Journey

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Will

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Truth to Learn

Hope, patience, and steadfastness can be ours in Christ.

Behind the Words

“Rejoicing” is translated from chairontes, meaning “to be full of cheer,” or “to be calmly happy.”

The word “hope” is from elpis, which means, “an earnest desire, and the expectation of obtaining the object of that desire.” It is not an uncertainty that we hope will come to pass; it implies a clear expectation that it will happen.

The word translated “affliction” is a form of the Greek word thlipsis, meaning “to press, squeeze, or crush.” It refers to those times when we are under pressure or affliction.

“Patient” is from a form of hupomonē, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under or beneath” and a form of menō, which means “to remain.” So literally it means “to remain under.”

The word translated “continuing steadfastly” is proskartereō. This is made up of pros, meaning “to or towards” and kartereō, meaning “to endure.” It literally means “to stay where you are.” As Paul uses it here, it means “to stay in an attitude and practice of prayer.”

Meaning Explained

Like the previous verse, Christians are told how to behave in life. Paul starts off with “rejoicing in hope.” We have a hope of eternal glory that the unsaved don’t have. We know that there is a future state in which we will live with our Savior, where there will be no more tears, pain, or suffering. It is this future hope of glory that Paul reminds us of, telling us to rejoice in hope.

Paul’s next admonition is to be “patient in tribulation.” When we are under pressure or affliction, we want to take matters into our own hands, causing us to respond inappropriately. Instead, we need to “remain under control” or “remain under the authority and leadership of our Lord.” We need to remain submitted to Him and committed to doing His will, not our own.

Finally, Paul tells us we need to be “continuing steadfastly in prayer.” No matter what happens, whether in good times or bad, whether in sickness or health, whether in joy or in sorrow, we need to consistently be in the attitude and practice of prayer with our God.

God does not intend for our Christian lives to be ones in which we are on a journey by ourselves calling upon our Father whenever we have troubles. Instead, He wants us to be on a journey with Him as our constant companion and guide, talking (praying) about everything with Him as we experience it; asking questions as we go, sharing our joys with Him, and seeking comfort in our sorrows. This is the kind of personal relationship God wants with each one of us, and it involves a LOT of prayer.

Application

How is your journey in life going? Perhaps your path is rocky and difficult right now. Are you patiently enduring it? Are you going it alone, or do you have your guide walking with you and leading the way? And, are you carrying on a constant conversation with your guide?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:11 – Diligent Spiritual Service

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Will

in diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Truth to Learn

A Christian’s life should be characterized by diligent service.

Behind the Words

“Slothful” is from oknēros, from the verb okneō, meaning “to be slow, to be lazy, or to delay.”

The word translated “diligence” is spoudē, which literally means “speed,” but by implication it refers to eagerness, earnestness, diligence, or zeal.

The word “fervent” is translated from the Greek word dzeontes, which literally means “to be hot.” However, it means more than just being overly warm. In reference to liquids, this word means “to boil” and with reference to metal objects it means “to glow.”

The word translated “serving” is douleuontes, which comes from the noun “doulos” meaning “a slave who has been purchased by, and therefore completely subservient to the will of, his or her master.”

Meaning Explained

Paul continues his admonition of how we ought to behave in this Christian life. In this verse there are three declarations. Literally he says, “in speed not slow, in the spirit being fervent, in the Lord being a slave.” In the first of these, Paul is telling us that whatever we choose to do, it should be done earnestly, not lazily. In other words, whatever you apply yourself to, you should do it the best you can. It should be done diligently and faithfully, as if Christ were there observing you.

In the second part of this verse, Paul tells us that we should be fervent in spirit. Whereas the first part of this verse deals with the physical part of our being, this expression refers to the spiritual part of our being. In other words, Paul is telling us that our spiritual life and effort should be fervent. That is, we should be “on fire” for the Lord.

In his evaluation of the church of Laodicea, in the 3^rd chapter of the book of the Revelation, our Lord says this:

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

Clearly He was not pleased with the church that was merely lukewarm, and I believe that is a warning to all Christians today. We should not simply be going through the motions in our Christian walk. God wants hot, on-fire followers, not average, lukewarm followers.

The third part of this verse is actually a continuance of the second part. Not only are we to be hot in our spiritual life, it is to be manifested in our service to the Lord. We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and are no longer free. We are the purchased slaves of God. Therefore, we should be serving Him, not ourselves.

Application

Let me ask you a real soul-searching question. Who are you really living your life for? Are you your own master, or are you completely submitted to the one who bought you with the precious blood of Christ?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:10 – Being an Example

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Will

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Truth to Learn

Christians are to treat other Christians in a special way.

Behind the Words

The word translated “kindly affectionate” is found nowhere else in the Bible. It is philostorgos, which is made up of philos, meaning “a friend” and a form of storgē, which refers to “natural family love” or “the kind of love that a mother has for her child.” It is that intimate fondness that binds members of a close family together no matter what happens.

The Greek word translated “brotherly love” is philadelphia. This is made up of philos, signifying “a kind of love signified by fondness or friendship” and a form of adelphos, which means “brother.” Thus, we see that philadelphia refers to “brotherly love” or “the kind of fondness and friendship that exists between good friends.” This is a completely different word than the one translated “love” in the previous verse. That word is agape, which is self-sacrificing love in action, the kind of love that God has for His redeemed children.

“Honor” is translated from timē, which is derived from tinō, referring to “the value or the price paid for something.” With regard to people, timē denotes “esteem, respect, or honor.”

The word translated “giving preference” is the Greek word proēgeomai, which is made up of pro meaning “before or in front of” and hegeomai, which means “to lead the way.” So literally it means “to lead the way before others” and could be interpreted as “setting an example.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now focuses on how Christians should treat each other. We are to have a brotherly love for each other. But Paul makes a special distinction about this brotherly love. He describes it as “kindly affectionate.” That is, the kind of fondness that we are to have for fellow Christians should be more than just friendship, it should be a binding love, the kind that exists in close families. I think if I were to paraphrase the first part of this verse it would say, “Make your love for your Christian brothers and sisters be like that which binds a parent and a child.”

In the second part of this verse, Paul tells us that we are to give preference to one another in honor. As we pointed out in “Behind the Words,” he is telling us that we should set an example of each other in honor. Therefore this phrase could be translated as, “setting an example in honoring each other.’

In other words, Paul is telling us in this verse that we should feel so personally attached to each other in the church that we will gladly set the example of seeking for others to receive honor before ourselves. In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul told us to present our living bodies as a sacrifice, to be used as God determines. Then in verse three he said:

For I say … to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

In the body of Christ, we should all consider the good of others more important than our own good, and we should be giving honor to others, not seeking it for ourselves.

Application

If every member of the church obeyed this verse, there would be no strife or dissention in the church and God would be truly glorified! Who wants to go first in being an example?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:9 – Sacrificial Evidence

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Will

Let love be sincere. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Truth to Learn

Here is the evidence of a living sacrifice.

Behind the Words

The word translated “sincere” is the Greek word anupokritos, which is a compound word made up of a, meaning “without” and a form of hupokrinomai (from which we get our English word, hypocrite), meaning “to pretend” or “to put on a false front.” This word originally referred to the art of acting on a stage. An actor portrays someone other than who he or she truly is and that is the salient meaning of the word hypocrite.

The Greek word translated “abhor” is apostugeō. This is another compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” but often used as an intensifier, and stugeō, which means “to hate, abhor, or detest with horror.” It expresses an extremely strong hatred for something.

“Evil” is from ponēros, which refers to “that which is bad or evil in effect or influence.” There is a similar Greek word, kakos, which refers to “that which is bad or evil in character.”

“Cling” is from kollaō, meaning “to be glued to something.” And the word translated “good” is agathos, meaning “that which is good or beneficial.”

Meaning Explained

Paul started out this chapter telling us that we need to completely surrender ourselves to God as living sacrifices to be used in His service as He chooses. He then told us that we should have a humble opinion of ourselves because we are all members of the body of Christ (the church) and that we each have gifts which we are to be using as members of that body. Having talked about some of the gifts, he now goes on to tell us what a living sacrifice should look like to others.

He says, “Let love be sincere.” Our love should be sincere and not done as an act to try to convince people that we are different than we really are.

Paul also says that we should “abhor what is evil.” In other words, we should hate that which has an evil effect or that which produces evil with as much emotion and force as that with which we love God.

This is a verse that all Christians would do well to follow. It seems that we have become soft and we tend to tolerate evil without saying much about it. When we see someone do something evil, we should not turn around and forget about it, we should be filled with indignation and absolutely hate the evil act. Incidentally, even though we should hate the sin, we need to love the sinner.

Finally, Paul says that we should be “glued to that which is good.” When two things are glued together, they are inseparable. That’s how we should be – inseparable from things which are good.

Application

These are three key characteristics of Christians who are committed to God, who have placed themselves on the altar as living sacrifices. Their love is genuine, they absolutely hate that which is evil, and they are good through and through.

Is that how others see you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:8 – Joy In Serving

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Will

the one who is exhorting, in exhortation; the one who is giving, with simplicity; the one who is leading, with diligence; the one who is showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

Truth to Learn

Spiritual gifts are to be used with joy in the body of Christ.

Behind the Words

The word translated “exhorting” is parakalon, which is a present participle meaning “assisting, comforting, challenging, or encouraging.”

“Giving” is from metadidōmi, meaning “to give to others or to share.” This gift is to be performed “with simplicity” which comes from the Greek word haplotēs, meaning “with singleness, with simplicity, or without any ulterior motives.”

“Leading” is from proistēmi, which literally means, “the one who is standing before.” This is a person who is in charge, and we are told that this gift is done, “en spoude.” This literally means “with speed” but by implication it means “with diligence.”

Finally, Paul mentions, “ho eleon” meaning “the one having compassion or mercy” It involves not only feeling compassionate for those in circumstances brought about by their own sin, but actively assisting them in overcoming their sin and circumstances. This gift is different from “helps” in that it is extended to those who deserve what they are suffering and don’t really deserve the assistance.

Meaning Explained

In this verse, even though he refers to individuals, Paul’s focus is not so much on the person as on the gift. He starts off by talking about exhortation or encouragement. This is one of the words that Jesus used to describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians as our “comforter.”

But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and remind you of all things that I have said to you.(John 14:26)

Do you know someone who is like a coach, encouraging and challenging other Christians to commitment and service for the Lord? That’s the gift of exhortation at work.

Someone with the gift of giving does so without expectation of receiving anything in return. The person with this gift loves to share the material blessings that he or she has with others. People with this gift are often hidden in the body of Christ because they don’t seek recognition.

Have you ever known a Sunday School Superintendent who was gifted at organizing and running a Sunday school program? This person has the gift of leadership. If you don’t like to stand up in front of others, don’t enjoy planning and organizing, and aren’t willing to make the tough decisions, you probably don’t have the gift of leadership.

Most of us have a tendency to be a bit smug and self-righteous when we see a fellow Christian who is reaping the aweful results of sinfulness in his or her life. A person with the gift of mercy, however, is compelled to reach out to that person and help them get back on their feet.

Application

When we have placed ourselves on the altar as living sacrifices, we find joy and satisfaction in using the gifts that God has given us. Do you find joy in serving God? That’s probably your spiritual gift at work.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:7 – His Gifts, His Choice

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Will

or service, let us use it in our serving; the one teaching, in the teaching;

Truth to Learn

We all have gifts to be used within the church, but God determines which gift or gifts we have been given.

Behind the Words

The word that is translated “service” is the Greek word diakonian, which is translated elsewhere as “deacon.” It means “one who attends to the needs of others” or “one who serves.” This is a gift of helping others who are in need.

“Teaching” is translated from didaskō, which is a causative form of the verb daō, meaning “to learn.” Didaskō means “to teach” or “to cause someone to learn.”

Meaning Explained

It is at this point that most expositions on these current verses veer off and begin to talk about the various leadership positions within the church (prophet, deacon, teacher, preacher, elder). Notice, however, that Paul is talking about the gifts that God has bestowed on the various members of the body. He is not (in these verses at least) talking about the gifted people. I know it’s a subtle distinction, but Paul’s focus is on the gifts provided by the giver (God) and how they are to be used for the benefit of the body.

In the case of the gift of service, it is the ability to recognize those who are in need and being willing and able to humble oneself to the position of servant to assist them. In my mind it is one of the most important gifts within the church but one which few people aspire to.

The next gift talked about is the gift of teaching. I am sure that we all have known people who can take the Word of God and open it up in such a way that it becomes clearer to us; someone who makes learning the history and doctrines of the Bible exciting and fun. This is a person who has the gift of teaching in the church. Remember that these gifts are abilities or talents that God has bestowed on individuals. The gift does not require years of education to use it effectively, although often the proper education will enhance one’s ability to use the gift.

According to Paul, these gifts are given to individuals in the church differently according as His grace sees fit. Some of us may have several of the gifts and some may only have a single gift. How many we have or even which one we might have is not important. What is important is that we make use of the gift within the framework of the church. If God has gifted you in a certain area and you are not using that gift within the church, then you are not using that gift as God intended. If you don’t know in what area God has gifted you, instead of asking God for a particular gift, learn all you can about all of them and ask God to show you the area in which He has gifted you. Remember, when you placed yourself on the altar, you turned over all decision making to God.

Application

One day all Christians will appear before the Bema seat of Christ where we will receive rewards for what we have done with what God has given us. My prayer is that each of us will be able to look God straight in the eye and say, “Lord I have used what you have given me to the best of my ability to bring praise to You! You are worthy, O Lord!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 12:6 – Benevolent or Malignant

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Will

But having different gifts according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

Truth to Learn

Each Christian is gifted for the benefit of the body of Christ.

Behind the Words

Paul begins the verse with a coordinating conjunction de, which can be translated as “and” or as “but” or several other English words. In each case, however, the purpose is to show the direct connection between the previous phrase and the following one.

The word translated as “gifts” is the Greek word charismata, which refers to “that which has been bestowed gratuitously.” In other words, it wasn’t earned and isn’t deserved; it was simply imparted out of benevolence.

“Prophecy” is translated from the Greek word prophēteia, which is the noun form of prophēteuō. According to The Word Study Dictionary, this word means “to foretell things to come; to declare truths through the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit whether by prediction or otherwise.” In other words, it includes both the “foretelling” of events before they happen and the “forth-telling” of the truths of God’s Word. The primary gift of the prophet in the early church involved both of these.

This list of spiritual gifts is clearly punctuated as a coordinated list as can be seen by the Greek grammatical construction. Each of the gifts in this and the two following verses is preceded with the Greek word eite, which is another kind of coordinating conjunction. It is as if these had been listed as “bullet points” with each occurrence of eite being a bullet. There is no apparent order of importance or hierarchy in this list, it is simply a list.

Meaning Explained

Now that Paul has explained to us that the church is like a body made up of many differing parts, he begins to describe some of the functions that these various parts perform and the special enabling that we have to perform these functions. We, the members of the body of Christ, have gifts. These gifts were given to us according to, or with respect to, or as part of, the grace that was given to us. Paul is telling us that these gifts were given to us at the point in time that the grace of God was bestowed upon us, when we were given the righteousness of Christ. In other words, these gifts were given to us when we were saved. They are not part of a “second blessing” nor are they gifts that we earn as we become mature Christians. They were given to us once, for all time, just as our salvation was given to us once, for all time and eternity.

Remember, as you read through this list of gifts, they were given to us as members of a body and they are to be used to make the body healthy. They are not given for personal profit (not even to the prophet J), but for the good of the body.

Application

Do you know what spiritual gift(s) God has blessed you with? Are you using it (them) for the good of the body?

Keep in mind that there is a kind of cell within the human body that has no regard for the cells around it. Its only purpose is to feed itself so it can grow. It’s called cancer!

In God's service, for His glory,