Romans Part 6: RESPONSESample

Living a Sacrificial Life

Romans 12 is based on our relationship with God, lived in “reasonable service” (KJV). In the earlier chapters of Romans, Paul has beautifully laid out the things we should know about the work of Christ which brought us salvation; now he is going from doctrine to duty; one might say from root to fruit.

Our passage lays out a kingdom principle that is stated several times in the New Testament and with references and quotes from the Old. The principle: We are to do what is right in God’s eyes, no matter the cost to us. We have faith God will handle the justice part of our loss or hurt.

In our world, ideas of being wronged might drift toward marital hurts, broken relationships, abuses, and being slandered. Maybe we have suffered fraud, theft, or other great financial losses, or even worse, lost loved ones by someone else’s hand. In other parts of the world, some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being maimed and martyred for their faith. Whether the evil is small or great, the standard is the same; do no harm; act nobly toward your enemy, leaving all “settling” up to God.

Even the world agrees that vengeance and retribution are wrong; that is the part about doing what is right in the eyes of everybody. Those are the world’s standards, but God’s dictates are higher. He wants us to bless our enemy and overcome evil with good. Our example is Jesus, who came to His enemies and offered them salvation and a place with Him in heaven, even praying for those who killed Him. I Peter 1:21 ”...leaving us an example that we should walk in His steps.” And then, in verse 23, “When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”

Paul is thinking both about our obedience to God’s principles and our testimony to a watching world. To violate one is to violate both. The world is well acquainted with the natural responses to being wronged, but when the reaction is one of kindness and peacemaking they take note. The purpose is to make a path for your testimony, an opportunity to share the gospel from a standpoint of love.

-JInet Troost