Romans 12
Dear RTB’ers,
Yesterday’s last verse seemed like the ending to a letter: For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (v. 11:36) However, we begin Chapter 12 with a “…therefore…”, so Paul must have picked up his “pen” again, offering a number of “do’s and don’ts” for daily Christian living. The lines that jumped out at me today were echoes of what I posted yesterday: …I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think… (v. 12:3b), and Never be wise in your own sight. (v. 12:16b) Repeating yesterday: “Do not be arrogant!”
Carol and I had morning coffee on a balcony overlooking a river in Mostar, Bosnia. As I looked down the river over the city I could see six minarets, places of Moslem worship. Truly, I was sick at heart. Over the past many days we’ve been reading about Paul grieving over his Jewish brothers. We can also grieve today over these millions of people who are worshiping one God, but not our Savior, Jesus. Our host here is truly a wonderful man, very warm and welcoming. So we can love the people and pray for them, but still be saddened for the message that they are missing.
Praying for my brother and my sister and Courtenay’s brother and caregiver and millions of others, all in Hurricane Milton’s path…
Blessings!
See also: December 13 (2023) / Romans 12:1-15:13
As Fred rightly notes, Romans 12 starts off with a “…therefore…” In other words, these last five chapters of Romans depend on the first eleven chapters and serve to answer the question, “In light of what has come before, how should we then live?” As Paul answers that question, we should all be asking ourselves, “Does my life look anything like what Paul sets forth here? And if not, why not?” As we evaluate ourselves, we should bear in mind what I wrote last year. (See the December 13 (2023) / Romans 12:1-15:13 post.)