XII:FortheWorld|Romans12:9a,14-21Romans12:9a,14-219Letlovebegenuine…14Blessthosewhopersecuteyou;blessanddonotcursethem.15Rejoicewiththosewhorejoice,weepwiththosewhoweep.16Liveinharmonywithoneanother.Donotbehaughty,butassociatewiththelowly.Neverbewiseinyourownsight.17Repaynooneevilforevil,butgivethoughttodowhatishonorableinthesightofall.18Ifpossible,sofarasitdependsonyou,livepeaceablywithall.19Beloved,neveravengeyourselves,butleaveittothewrathofGod,foritiswritten,“Vengeanceismine,Iwillrepay,saystheLord.”20Tothecontrary,“ifyourenemyishungry,feedhim;ifheisthirsty,givehimsomethingtodrink;forbysodoingyouwillheapburningcoalsonhishead.”21Donotbeovercomebyevil,butovercomeevilwithgood.“…simplyexisting…beingmerelyhousedandfedandsafeandalive—seemsemptyandmeaninglesstous.Whatmoreisitthatweneedinordertofeelthatlifeisworthwhile?Theanswer…isthatweallseekacausebeyondourselves.”–AtulGawande,BeingMortal“Nocommunityonearthhasthenetwork,resources,institutionsandmotivationthattheChurchhas.Itsinfluencereacheseverywhere;itoperateshundredsofcharitableorganizationsthatprovideawidearrayofservicestotheneedy;itbelievesinamessageandwayoflifethattheworldneedsandwants.NeverbeforehastheChurchhadsuchopportunityforinfluence.Thebiggestproblemitfacesisitsowncomplacencyandworldliness.”–GeraldSittser,WaterfromaDeepWell

CommunityfortheWorldRomans12:15-16a15Rejoicewiththosewhorejoice,weepwiththosewhoweep.16Liveinharmonywithoneanother.John13:34-3534AnewcommandmentIgivetoyou,thatyouloveoneanother:justasIhavelovedyou,youalsoaretoloveoneanother.35Bythisallpeoplewillknowthatyouaremydisciples,ifyouhaveloveforoneanother.”DoIrelatetomychurchfamilyinawaythatdisplayswhatJesusislike?MercyandJusticefortheWorldRomans12:16Donotbehaughty,butassociatewiththelowly.Neverbewiseinyourownsight.Matthew25:37-4037Thentherighteouswillanswerhim,saying,‘Lord,whendidweseeyouhungryandfeedyou,orthirstyandgiveyoudrink?38Andwhendidweseeyouastrangerandwelcomeyou,ornakedandclotheyou?39Andwhendidweseeyousickorinprisonandvisityou?’40AndtheKingwillanswerthem,‘Truly,Isaytoyou,asyoudidittooneoftheleastofthesemybrothers,youdidittome.’“TheimpiousGalileans[i.e.Christians]supportnotonlytheirpoor,butoursaswell,everyonecanseethatourpeoplelackaidfromus.”–RomanEmperorJulianDoIrelatetothosewithlessstatusthanmeinawaythatdisplayswhatJesusislike?GraceandTruthfortheWorldRomans12:14,17-2014Blessthosewhopersecuteyou;blessanddonotcursethem…17Repaynooneevilforevil,butgivethoughttodowhatishonorableinthesightofall.18Ifpossible,sofarasitdependsonyou,livepeaceablywithall.19Beloved,neveravengeyourselves,butleaveittothewrathofGod,foritiswritten,“Vengeanceismine,Iwillrepay,saystheLord.”20Tothecontrary,“ifyourenemyishungry,feedhim;ifheisthirsty,givehimsomethingtodrink;forbysodoingyouwillheapburningcoalsonhishead.”

“Returninghateforhatemultiplieshate,addingdeeperdarknesstoanightalreadydevoidofstars.Darknesscannotdriveoutdarkness;onlylightcandothat.Hatecannotdriveouthate,onlylovecandothat.”–Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.,StrengthtoLoveRomans12:2121Donotbeovercomebyevil,butovercomeevilwithgood.DoIrelatetothosewhodonotfollowJesusinawaythatdisplayswhatJesusislike?Romans5:9-109Since,therefore,wehavenowbeenjustifiedbyhisblood,muchmoreshallwebesavedbyhimfromthewrathofGod.10ForifwhilewewereenemieswewerereconciledtoGodbythedeathofhisSon,muchmore,nowthatwearereconciled,shallwebesavedbyhislife.