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.
True and Proper = Logical and Rational
CS Lewis Quote.
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
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. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Love 101, Love 401.
“Let love be genuine.
4 Words for love - Agape, phileo, eros, storge
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”
“Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.”
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ”
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.”
Rosaria Butterfield, author of “The Gospel comes with a House Key” calls it this..
“Radically ordinary Hospitality- Those who live it see strangers as neighbors and neighbors as family of God. They recoil at reducing a person to a category or a label. The see God’s image reflected in the eyes of every human being on earth. “Those who live out radically ordinary hospitality see their homes not as theirs at all but as God’s gift to use for the furtherance of his kingdom. They open doors; they seek out the underprivileged. They know that the gospel comes with a house key.”
-Rosaria Butterfield
Love 401, Loving those who hate you
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.- Pray for them
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge - Forgive
Give them what they NEED for their good- verse 20,
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
1 Samuel 24:17-19
17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.
Luke 6:29 says
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.
Humbly! - Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?