The Transforming Power of the Gospel 12 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,[a] but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. Your Proper Role in the Body of Christ 3 God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem. 4 In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. 5 And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others. 6 God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts and ministries that are uniquely ours. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, you must activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy. 7 If your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well. If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others. 8 If you have the grace-gift of encouragement,[b] then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion,[c] then flourish in your cheerful[d] display of compassion. Transformed Relationships9 Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. 10 Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another. 11 Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him. 12 Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble,[e] but commune with God at all times. 13 Take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home. 14 Speak blessing, not cursing, over those who reject and persecute you. 15 Celebrate with those who celebrate, and weep with those who grieve. 16 Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own. Don’t live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but be willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble minded.[f] Don’t be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all. 17 Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. 18 Do your best to live as everybody’s friend.[g] 19 Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice.[h] For the Scriptures say: “If you don’t take justice in your own hands, I will release justice for you,” says the Lord.[i] 20 And: If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness.[j] For your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor.[k] 21 Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.[l]
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Jesus, Lord over the Sabbath
One Saturday, on the day of rest,[a] Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field of wheat. The disciples were hungry, so they plucked off some heads of grain and rubbed them in their hands[b] to eat. 2 But when some of the Pharisees saw what was happening, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples shouldn’t be harvesting grain on the Sabbath!” 3 Jesus responded, “Haven’t you ever read what King David and his men did when they were hungry? 4 They entered the house of God[c] and ate the sacred bread of God’s presence,[d] violating the law by eating bread that only the priests were allowed to eat. 5 “And haven’t you read in the Torah that the priests violated the rules of the Sabbath by carrying out their duties in the temple on a Saturday, and yet they are without blame? 6 But I say to you, there is one here who is even greater than the temple. 7 If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’[e] you wouldn’t be condemning my innocent disciples. 8 For the Son of Man exercises his lordship over the Sabbath.”[f] 9 Then Jesus left them and went into the synagogue where 10 he encountered a man who had an atrophied, paralyzed hand.[g] The fault-finding Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it permissible to perform a work of healing on the Sabbath, when no one is supposed to work?” They only asked him this question because they hoped to accuse him of breaking the Jewish laws.[h] 11 He answered them, “If any of you had a lamb that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you reach out your hand and lift it out? 12 Isn’t a man much more valuable than a lamb? So of course, it’s always proper to do miracles,[i] even on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he turned to the man and said, “Hold out your hand!” And as he stretched it out, it was restored, exactly like the other. 14 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started to scheme about how they would do away with him. 15 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he left by another way. Massive crowds followed him from there, and he healed all who were sick. 16 However, he sternly warned them not to tell others or disclose his real identity, 17 in order to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah:[j] 18 Take a careful look at my servant,[k] my chosen one. I love him dearly and I find all my delight in him.[l] I will breathe my Spirit upon him and he will decree justice[m] to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or be found yelling in public. 20 He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble,[n] until his victory releases justice. 21 And the fame of his name will birth hope among the people.[o] The Bridegroom-King I have gathered from your heart, my equal, my bride, I have gathered from my garden all my sacred spices—even my myrrh. I have tasted and enjoyed my wine within you. I have tasted with pleasure my pure milk, my honeycomb, which you yield to me. I delight in gathering my sacred spice, all the fruits of my life I have gathered from within you, my paradise garden. Come, all my friends-- feast upon my bride, all you revelers of my palace. Feast on her, my lovers! Drink and drink, and drink again, until you can take no more. Drink the wine of her love. Take all you desire, you priests. My life within her will become your feast.[a] The Shulamite Bride 2 After this I let my devotion slumber, but my heart for him stayed awake. I had a dream. I dreamed of my beloved-- he was coming to me in the darkness of night. The melody of the man I love awakened me. I heard his knock at my heart’s door as he pleaded with me: The Bridegroom-King Arise, my love. Open your heart, my darling, deeper still to me. Will you receive me this dark night? There is no one else but you, my friend, my equal. I need you this night to arise and come be with me. You are my pure, loyal dove, a perfect partner for me. My flawless one, will you arise? For my heaviness and tears are more than I can bear. I have spent myself for you throughout the dark night.[b] The Sleeping Bride 3 I have already laid aside my own garments for you. How could I take them up again since I’ve yielded my righteousness to yours?[c] You have cleansed my life and taken me so far. Isn’t that enough? 4 My beloved reached into me to unlock my heart. The core of my very being trembled at his touch. How my soul melted when he spoke to me! 5 My spirit arose to open for more of his touch. As I surrendered to him, I began to sense his fragrance-- the fragrance of his suffering love! It was the sense of myrrh flowing all through me! 6 I opened my soul to my beloved, but suddenly he was gone! And my heart was torn out in longing for him. I sought his presence, his fragrance, but could not find him anywhere. I called out for him, yet he did not answer me. I will arise and search for him until I find him. 7 As I walked throughout the city in search of him, the overseers stopped me as they made their rounds. They beat me and bruised me until I could take no more. They wounded me deeply and removed their covering from me. 8 Nevertheless, make me this promise, you brides-to-be: if you find my beloved one, please tell him I endured all travails for him. I’ve been pierced through by love,[d] and I will not be turned aside! Jerusalem Maidens, Brides-to-Be 9 What love is this? How could you continue to care so deeply for him? Isn’t there another who could steal away your heart? We see now your beauty, more beautiful than all the others. What makes your beloved better than any other? What is it about him that makes you ask us to promise you this? The Shulamite Bride10 He alone is my beloved. He shines in dazzling splendor yet is still so approachable-- without equal as he stands above all others, outstanding among ten thousand![e] 11 The way he leads me is divine. His leadership—so pure and dignified as he wears his crown of gold. Upon this crown are letters of black written on a background of glory.[f] 12 He sees everything with pure understanding. How beautiful his insights—without distortion. His eyes rest upon the fullness of the river of revelation, flowing so clean and pure. 13 Looking at his gentle face I see such fullness of emotion. Like a lovely garden where fragrant spices grow--[g] what a man! No one speaks words so anointed as this one--[h] words that both pierce and heal, words like lilies dripping with myrrh. 14 See how his hands hold unlimited power! But he never uses it in anger, for he is always holy, displaying his glory. His innermost place is a work of art-- so beautiful and bright. How magnificent and noble is this one-- covered in majesty! 15 He’s steadfast in all he does. His ways are the ways of righteousness, based on truth and holiness. None can rival him, but all will be amazed by him.[i] 16 Most sweet are his kisses, even his whispers of love. He is delightful in every way and perfect from every viewpoint. If you ask me why I love him so, O brides-to-be, it’s because there is none like him to me. Everything about him fills me with holy desire! And now he is my beloved—my friend forever. |
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