Romans - Week 30

Hard Work

READ

Romans 12:11-13

11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

After praising God for all He has done, Paul now begins to list what Christ-followers should do. Observe the specific instructions: 1) Never be lazy; 2) work hard; 3) enthusiastically serve the Lord; 4) rejoice in confident hope; 5) be patient in trouble; 6) keep on praying; 7) help needy Christ-followers; 8) practice hospitality. It is not “legalism” to seek to follow these instructions. These are not items to do in order to get right with God; they are things believers should do because they are right with God through faith in Jesus.

REFLECT

Think about each of these instructions from Paul. Try to rate how you are doing on each.

RESPOND

Read Titus 2:7 as it says what Paul told a young pastor who was teaching others. Hopefully you are discipling someone so these instructions also apply to you.

More Instructions

READ

Romans 12:14-16

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Here are more instructions from the apostle Paul about what believers in Christ should do. The word translated “Bless” in verse 14 is the one from which “eulogy” is derived. It means “to speak well of.” Believers are to have empathy for others so they rejoice with those rejoicing and weep with those weeping. When Christ-followers realize they are in the Body of Christ and need each other, they won’t think too highly of themselves.

REFLECT

Think of someone you know that may have been honored or were depressed. Did you empathize with and for them?

RESPOND

Read Philippians 2:2-4 to see more of how Paul thought believers should treat each other. Discuss with your disciple how you can use this for a check list about how you are doing—not to earn merit but because you are grateful for what Jesus has done for you.

Peaceful Living

READ

Romans 12:17-18

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Paul says not to retaliate when someone does you wrong. Also, you can be honorable but it is important to do things to show others you are honorable. It’s similar to love: you may love others but unless you do something to show it they won’t know it. This world seems to be torn apart by those who are not at peace with others. This is true on a world, national and local level. Some are impossible to please, but Paul encourages you to “do all you can to live in peace with everyone.”

REFLECT

Think on matters from this reading: not retaliating, showing others you are honorable and trying to live at peace with others. How do you consider you are doing in these areas?

RESPOND

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16 for another passage showing what Paul tells believers about living out their Christianity.

No Revenge

READ

Romans 12:19 

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

For those who are tempted to retaliate when someone does them wrong, Paul reminds them why this is not necessary. Although God is a God of love, notice here Paul also refers to Him as having “righteous anger.” Because of this, God will pay back those who mistreat believers who seem to be losing in the spiritual battle in this world. Knowing this truth should prevent believers from wanting to retaliate against others. God will take care of matters in the end.

REFLECT

Have you thought about God having “righteous anger”? How does that help you in not wanting to retaliate against those who mistreat you?

RESPOND

Concerning the anger of God, see Colossians 3:5-7 to see at what His anger is directed.

Conquer Evil

READ

Romans 12:20-21

20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Paul here tells believers what to do instead of retaliating against those who mistreat them. Rather than reacting in kind, believers are to do good things for them. Paul makes similar statements to those found in Proverbs 25:21-22, These seem to emphasize by doing an act of kindness that will cause shame to the person mistreating you. Notice that “doing good” is a weapon that will help you conquer in the spiritual battle.

REFLECT

Have there been times in your life when you were able to do something good for the person wronging you? What was the other person’s response?

RESPOND

Spend time talking to your disciple about this principle of doing something good for the one doing you wrong. Give and ask for examples. Also talk about using good as a weapon for conquering evil.