Offered to Our Father
After eleven chapters of argument, the response asked for is a body — ordinary life offered to our Father, a mind retrained rather than pressed into the age's shape. Then specifics: use your actual gift, love without pretending, bless persecutors, refuse revenge, overcome evil with good.
12 1So brothers and sisters, by our Father's mercies I urge you: offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to him—your true, reasonable worship. 2Don't be shaped by this age, but be transformed by renewing your mind, so you can discern our Father's will—good, pleasing, and perfect.
3By the grace given me, I tell each of you: don't think of yourself more highly than you should, but think with sound judgment, each according to the measure of faith our Father assigned. 4Just as one body has many parts, and the parts do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and each of us belongs to the others. 6Our gifts differ according to the grace given us: if prophecy, use it in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, with generosity; the leader, with diligence; the merciful, with cheerfulness.
9Let love be genuine. Hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be lacking in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be devoted to prayer. 13Share with our Father's people in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Don't be arrogant, but associate with the lowly. Don't be wise in your own eyes. 17Repay no one evil for evil; think ahead to do what is honorable before everyone. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19Beloved, don't avenge yourselves; leave room for our Father's wrath. As it's written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says our Father.
20Instead: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him a drink; doing this, you'll heap burning coals on his head." a a v20 Heaping burning coals on an enemy's head pictures overwhelming them with shame or conviction through unexpected kindness.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
