Romans 12

So then, {considering everything that I have told you,} I exhort you fellow believers, based on how compassionate God is: Devote yourselves {to God}, as if you were living animals someone offers to God. Be holy and please God. Doing so is the reasonable way for you to serve {God}.

Do not change yourselves to be like the {sinful people who live at} the current time. Rather, let God change the way you behave by changing the way you think in order that you can test and prove what God wants {you to do}. {God wants you to do} what is good, pleasing, and flawless. \*

Indeed, based on {how} God has kindly authorized me {to represent him,} I am telling every one of you to not think you are better than you really are. Rather, think properly {about yourselves}, according to the amount of trusting {in God} that God has apportioned to each one {of you}. \*

{You must think properly about yourselves} because, in the same way that a {human} body has many parts that all function for different purposes,

so also, we many {believers in the Messiah} are united to the Messiah as one group. {Each one of us is united to each other like} the individual parts {of a human body} are united. \*

Yet we {believers in the Messiah} have received different spiritual abilities in accordance with what God has kindly given to us. If {God has enabled you} to prophesy, {then prophesy} in accordance with the amount of trusting {in God} that God has apportioned to you.

If {God has enabled you} to serve, {then you should} serve {others}. {If God has enabled you} to teach {others}, {then you should} teach {others}.

If {God has enabled you} to encourage {others}, {then} you should encourage {others. If God has enabled you} to give {what you have to others}, {then} you should generously give {what you have to others}. {If God has enabled you} to lead {others}, {then} you should lead {others} diligently. {If God has enabled you} to be merciful, {then} you should cheerfully be merciful. \*

Love {each other} genuinely. Detest what is wicked. Fervently retain what is good.

Be affectionate toward each other in regard to loving fellow believers. Be the first to honor other {fellow believers}. \*

Do not be lazy, {but} be diligent. Be sincerely enthusiastic. Serve the Lord.

Rejoice because you are confident {in the Lord}. Be patient when you suffer. Pray persistently.

Share {what you have} {to provide} what God’s people need. Find opportunities to welcome {others into your home}. \*

{Ask God to} bless the people who mistreat you. {Ask God to} bless them rather than curse them.

Rejoice along with those people who are rejoicing. Cry along with those who are crying.

Be as concerned for each other as you are for yourselves. Do not think arrogantly {about yourselves}. Rather, associate with humble people. Do not be arrogant. \*

Do not do something evil to someone who has done something evil to you. Think carefully about {doing} things that everyone considers to be good.

Live peacefully with everyone whenever it is possible for you to do so. \*

{Fellow believers} whom I love, do not retaliate {when people do something evil against you}. Rather, let God punish {them}. {I say this} because Moses wrote {in the Scriptures}, “The Lord says, ‘I will retaliate {when people do something evil against you}. I will punish {them according to what they have done}.’”

Rather {than permitting us to retaliate, God instructed us in the Scriptures}, “Feed your enemy if that person is hungry. Give your enemy something to drink if that person is thirsty. {Do this} because when you do so, {your enemy will feel ashamed, as if} you were piling up burning coals on top of that person’s head.”

{In other words,} do not let what is evil defeat you {by causing you to do what is evil}. Rather, defeat what is evil by {doing} what is good. \*