Drive carefully. Watch for deer. Take care. Love you. Be safe. All of those are “mom” words parents say as older children leave the house. They are short reminders and expressions of care that implicitly say “I care about you.” Paul wrote a similar list to the Roman believers as he nears the end of his letter.
Normally, at this point, I’d copy in a block quote of today’s verses – Romans 12:9-12. But this section is so rich that it could easily be its own series of articles. So, instead of a block quote, I’ve reformatted this section into bullet points without commentary. As you read them, consider your walk in this world with Christ.
- Let love be without hypocrisy.
- Detest evil; cling to what is good.
- Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.
- Take the lead in honoring one another.
- Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
- Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
- Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Live in harmony with one another.
- Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.
- Do not be wise in your own estimation.
- Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
- Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
- If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
- Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
- Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans Applied. This list is not a buffet line where we pick and choose what works for us. You could say that these are the hallmarks and outflow of a normal Christian life. As you read the list, which ones are evident in your life, and which ones need improvement?
A word of caution. It is easy for us to read a list like this and point out where others are failing. Brother so-and-so is certainly proud. That bent to judge others and not ourselves comes from the fall, where both Adam and Eve blamed someone other than themselves. It may seem that someone’s brokenness covers our own, but it doesn’t.
Lastly, we will return to these verses once our series in Romans is complete. Each line deserves deeper consideration.
- Romans Applied – Christian Life - September 2, 2026
- Romans Applied – Many Gifts - August 26, 2026
- Romans Applied – Transformed - August 19, 2026
