“I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through 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 soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophesy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore “If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, 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 overcome evil with good.

--Chapter 12 of Paul the Apostle’s Epistle to the Romans

This chapter is a simple “guidebook” per se, to living a Christian life.

Paul starts off by saying, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” A living sacrifice, there is much to be said about this apparent contradiction, but, in short, God wants us to do everything for Him, and with Him in mind.

Being good, or, being a Christian, is not easy. The devil waits around every corner to trick us into what “feels” good. When we get home from work how often do we sit down and read the Bible, as opposed to watching television? And watching television is not a bad or sinful act, but it very quickly can become one. Although there is a great deal of “good” content, there is also a great deal of “sinful” content, which misleads our minds. Programs that contain violence, sex, idolatry may feel like harmless entertainment, because we are merely watching, but God is clear in stating that a sin is a sin in the mind just as much as it is a sin when physically acted.

Further on, Paul mentions the often overlooked principle that we, “have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one body.” Everyone gathers to hold hands and sing God’s praise at church every Saturday or Sunday. We listen to the words of the priest or preacher, and they fill our hearts with peace and joy. The words make sense, and during that moment we become filled with the Holy Spirit. Why does it turn upside down so quickly after we’re on the other side of those church walls? Is not the entire world God’s church? We could not bring ourselves to curse at another in church, or wish them evil in church, but we so naturally do it when we don’t like the way someone in front of us is driving. We so easily use insults and criticize others for the way they dress, talk, sing, act, but we would find such things blasphemous inside of a church. We must not forget that every place in the world is God’s church, and so we should try our best to act is if we are in God’s company, because, I assure you, we always are.

And we have gifts, so many gifts, but we do not use them, or even acknowledge them, because it is easier to do and think the opposite.

Some other line of work always seems more rewarding or fulfilling to us than what we are doing. Would daily life not be easier to enjoy and endure if we took pleasure in all the things we do, however menial, knowing we did our best job, and God is proud of us for it? Would we not sleep better at night if we took joy in our ability to accomplish the tasks we considered so meaningless when we were doing them? More often than not, I hear my co-workers complaining—about tips, getting refills, the way a customer ordered, the “stupid” questions the customer asked and how they are “stupid” for asking them. And when the customers leave a good tip, so rarely are the damaging words taken back. But when the customers leave a bad tip, every mean and evil comment one person can make towards another comes thoughtlessly flying out of their mouths—to the point, even, of wishing evil things upon them. It’s sad. It hurts God. He understands that we rely on those tips for a living, but would he ever condone or understand wishing illness on another person for any reason? No.

Very recently I decided to be very conscious of those negative habits of mine. By calling someone a bad name, I was calling God a bad name. By wishing them ill-fated occurrences, I was wishing God ill-fated occurrences. By valuing the money they would leave for my service over valuing my opportunity to serve them, for God, I was valuing money over God. And since I started looking at every table, every group of people, or just one person, as an opportunity to serve for God, I have found much greater daily peace. Even if I was required to wash their feet, and I used it as an opportunity to serve God, I could find reward in it. So I urge everyone to look at the tasks of your day in that way. You will find peace, I promise.

The second half of this chapter is rather self-explanatory. My favorite verse is 16, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

If you try to live like this, for no other reason that to please and serve God, you will be fulfilled. Even in times of darkness and hardship you will not give up, rather, you will overcome, and God will help you, and God will be happy with you. If you do.

Love and God Forever,
Anthony Paul