​Week 22, Day 3

​Week 22, Day 3
June 1, 2022
Romans 12
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
Fellow believers will often say to me, “I don’t know what to do. Can you help?” It’s usually in the context of a relationship issue, or a newer Christian, who is uncertain of the expectations. Typically, people like a good list to work through, to feel a sense of accomplishments and purpose.
I am one of those people. I have often then prescribed Romans 12 as the list to end all lists. You go through this, and it will keep you busy for a while!
The heart of this though, is not to spur on activity and a sense of purpose. It can certainly do that, and that’s not at all wrong.
But this is about overcoming evil. This is about unity. This is about how God formed a new humanity together through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is how we embrace this new reality. How does a body of believers come together in one name, Jesus? We practice hospitality. We do not think too highly of ourselves. We devote ourselves to hone another. We honor each other, we serve each other. We pray for one another…
Romans 12 is not a list of activities to please God, but expressions of a new reality given to us by God. We are on the other side of death. We are unified in Christ as one new humanity. How does this family function and exist together? Romans 12 lights the path forward.
So perhaps, the question may still be, “I don’t know what to do, can you help?” The answer needs to shift towards, “Yes, I can, Romans 12 invites you to participate in the body of believers and express itself in these ways. Practice these things, together, for the glory of God. Practice them to express the new hope you have found in Jesus Christ.”
Express today, in your love for one another, this new reality. The new reality is this: Jesus is Lord and I am new in him. I belong to the family of God, and this is how we treat one another, Love.