Made Right To Walk Right
BRD REFLECTIONS
Romans 12:1-8 and Psalm 141 (NIV)
(Alvin Tay, Associate Lay Leader)
READ:
Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
We have completed the reading of the first 11 chapters of Romans. In The Message of Romans, John Stott divided these 11 chapters as follow:
1. Introduction (Romans 1:1-17)
2. The Wrath of God (Romans 1:18 to 3:20)
3. The Grace of God (Romans 3:21 to 8:39)
4. The Plan of God (Romans 9 to 11)
And so, today’s BRD reading takes us to Chapter 12, which John Stott categorised as The Will of God (Romans 12:1 to 15:13). And in the New International Version, the Apostle Paul started Chapter 12 with the word “therefore”.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1).
The word “therefore” links this exhortation to all that Apostle Paul has written in the preceding 11 chapters, especially regarding God’s grace and God’s mercy.
In view of God’s mercy, Paul also has this “Don’t Do List” for us:
1. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (v2)
2. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…. (v3).
APPLY:
The theme for our Romans Study series is: “Made Right to Walk Right”.
Thanks to God’s mercy and grace, which we do not deserve, we are made right with God. Pastor-in-charge Rev Raymond Fong said in his overview of Romans that we are then to walk right with God. How? Through right relationships with God and with one another. We are to offer ourselves to God (Romans 12:1-2) and to humble ourselves to serve (12:3-8).
In today’s passage, Paul provides a list of seven spiritual gifts (Roman 12:6-8). Spiritual gifts are also mentioned in Paul’s other letters — 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; and Ephesians 4:11.
The common themes concerning spiritual gifts in these 4 passages are:
1. Provider: God is the provider of all our spiritual gifts.
2. Purpose: These gifts are given to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… (Ephesians 4:12).
3. Posture: Humble ourselves to serve with these gifts. Paul warns us not to “think of yourself more highly than you ought….” (Romans 12:3).
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us (Romans 12:6). In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (v5). In other words, we are one body in Christ. Unity is key!
DO:
I thank God for the spiritual gifts that He has bestowed on me, just as He has for each and every one of us. No gift is too small. I will commit to use whatever gifts I am given for God’s purposes, and to do so diligently and out of the gratitude of my heart.
I will continue to trust and rely on God’s provision for brothers and sisters in Christ with complementary gifts big and small to come alongside me – or I alongside them – and together fulfil His purposes and for His glory!
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the many privileges you have given me to serve you in church and beyond. Thank you for your mercy and grace upon me and my loved ones. Grant me a humble heart to serve you wholeheartedly, not trusting in my own abilities but always relying on you to show the way and to provide fellow servants to journey with me. I pray for unity of hearts and oneness in purpose as we serve you as brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to Walk Right with you, as we have been Made Right by you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
