Author: Beth Duncan

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

The end of verse 20 is quite intriguing. By being kind to my enemy, I heap burning coals on his head? Tell me more. Commentary wasn’t very forthcoming on this verse. It said that by making an enemy a friend, we destroy that enemy (quite literally because said enemy is now a friend). Commentary also talked about the custom of lending coals to a neighbor to help the neighbor start a fire. That, to me, doesn’t quite make sense in this context.

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Neither explanation seems satisfactory to me. And while I think there could be a perverse pleasure in acting the opposite of what’s expected (Oh, you hate me? I’m going to be nice to you at every turn.), I think that if I am conscientiously trying to do kind things for my enemy, if I am praying earnestly for my enemy, that is going to eventually change my attitude toward that person. Though, again, that’s not easy, not fast, and not innate human tendency.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Precious Savior, This chapter contains some guidelines that can be incredibly difficult to put into practice. I don’t want to be kind to my enemy. I want revenge. I want my enemy to pay. But just typing that makes me feel bad, angry, mean. I don’t want that, either. Help me–no matter how difficult it is–to be kind to my enemy, to pray for my enemy, so that my heart can stay in communion with You. Amen.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

You’ve heard of a compliment sandwich? Where you begin and end with a compliment to someone and have whatever is difficult for that person to hear sandwiched in the middle? Today’s verses seem like some kind of reverse compliment sandwich, where you begin and end with really difficult directives and put the easy stuff in the middle.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Rejoicing with those rejoicing, mourning with those who mourning, not getting too big for your britches, not being conceited–those are fairly easy, fairly doable. But blessing those who persecute you? Doing what is right in the eyes of everyone? Everyone? Those feel fairly insurmountable at times.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Precious Savior, You prayed for those who persecuted You as You were dying. You’ve set the ultimate example of how to live according to these verses. But that doesn’t make it any easier to do. Help me to live as You lived, to love as You love, to do my best every day to shine Your light, to forgive myself as You forgive when I mess up, which I undoubtedly will. Amen.

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:12a Be joyful in hope, 

Romans 12:12 is the first verse I remember intentionally claiming as my own. It seems to be a fairly Swiss Army Knife verse–very versatile, useful in a variety of situations. It is still a favorite verse of mine as it is a good general reminder of how I should live life–joyful, patient, faithful. I still fail to live up to it to varying degrees.

Romans 12:12b  …patient in affliction,

One thing I noticed during this reading that I’m not sure I’ve paid much attention to before is the fact that these verses, in the NIV translation, are in a section entitled “Love in Action.” So not only is Romans 12:12 a good life verse, it’s a good love verse as well. When we love others, we should be joyful, patient, faithful. What a beautiful gift

Romans 12:12c …faithful in prayer. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Romans 12:12, a most versatile verse. Thank You for the fact that it contains such good advice for both living life and loving others. Help me to strive to be joyful, patient, and faithful in all areas of life. Amen.

Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

According to Google, the definition of sincere is “free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.” Sometimes sincerity is hard to come by, but we are to love one another, be devoted to one another in love, sincerely.

Romans 12:10a Be devoted to one another in love…. 

So what do we do when that person we are supposed to love and support is plucking our last nerve? What are we supposed to do when we feel we have given all that we have and no one is even paying attention, no one seems to even care? We give all those feelings to God. We love others, sincerely, for Him, in Him, with Him.

Romans 12:10b …Honor one another above yourselves.

Precious Savior, People are messy. This world is greedy. I am asked to love sincerely, to give freely, but sometimes it feels like a bottomless pit that just takes and takes and takes. Help me, especially when I am tired or frustrated or worn thin, to give You all those feelings of annoyance so that I can love others sincerely. Help me to love others for You, in You, and with You. Amen.

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

Last night I had to pinch-hit writing a devo for my church about trust and mourning. I stink at both. But I’m pretty decent at writing, and I have a knack for organizing things so I can (mostly) remember to do them all. And I like to think I’m good at encouragement, but I can’t always identify what I’m good at….or what I’m not.

Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 

We all have different skills, different gifts, different things we are good at. We need each other–not only to help balance one’s differences with another’s strengths, but also to help each other see what those strengths are. We are not always adept at seeing our strengths. That is the message of today’s verses.

Romans 12:7 …if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

Precious Savior, Thank You for this reminder that we need each other for so many reasons–to help each other, to balance each other, to remind each other of what we are good at–because we are all good in some areas, and we all struggle in some areas. But together, we balance. Help us to lift each other up and to shine Your light. Amen.

Romans 12:8 …if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

How can I offer my body as a living sacrifice to God? I think that if I follow what Jesus tells me to do–love as He loves, forgive as He forgives–instead of following my natural tendencies to judge and hold grudges, that’s a step in the right direction.

Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…. 

I think if I can be a safe haven of acceptance, a place where folks can catch their breath, not feel the sting of judgment, a place where they can find their feet, that’s a step in the right direction. I strive to do these things…with varying degrees of success. But I’ll keep trying to be more like Jesus in my thoughts, words, and deeds. I think that pleases Him.

Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Precious Savior, the world calls us to judge others. The world says that we need to put ourselves first, tear others down, lift ourselves up. You have called me to another path, a difficult path, a loving path. Help me to love as You love. Help me to put aside the ways of this world and offer myself, my words, my actions as a living sacrifice to You. Amen.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

Have a blessed day.