Living Sacrifices to God

12 I abeseech 1you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies ba living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your 2reasonable service. 2 And cdo not be conformed to this world, but dbe transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may eprove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

3 For I say, fthrough the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, gnot to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt hto each one a measure of faith. 4 For ias we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so jwe, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is kgiven to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us lprophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; mhe who teaches, in teaching; 8 nhe who exhorts, in exhortation; ohe who gives, with liberality; phe who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, qwith cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

9 rLet love be without hypocrisy. sAbhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 tBe kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, uin honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 vrejoicing in hope, wpatient 3in tribulation, xcontinuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 ydistributing to the needs of the saints, zgiven 4to hospitality.

14 aBless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 bRejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 cBe of the same mind toward one another. dDo not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 eRepay no one evil for evil. fHave 5regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, glive peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, hdo not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, i“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

j“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but kovercome evil with good.