In Romans 12:9-21, Paul reveals to us what a true Christian looks like. He gives a list of actions we should always strive to accomplish. This list is totally different from the message we hear from the world. The apostle tells us that as true Christians we:
- Have genuine love
- Hate evil
- Hold on to what is good
- Love one another
- Outdo each other in showing honor
- Have zeal
- Have a Fervent spirit
- Serve the Lord
- Rejoice in hope
- Are patient in tribulation
- Pray constantly
- Contribute to the Saints
- Are hospitable
- Bless our persecutors
- Do not curse our enemies
- Rejoice with those who rejoice
- Weep with those who weep
- Live in harmony
- Aren’t haughty
- Associate with the lowly
- Don’t think too much of ourselves
- Don’t repay evil with evil
- Do what is honorable in the sight of everyone
- Live peaceable
- Don’t take revenge
- Care for our enemies
- Don’t let evil overcome us
- Overcome evil with good
That’s a whole lot to remember. But if we love God, we will try our best to follow these commands. Christianity is practical because it gives us the best life on this earth and the one to come.
We know what’s truly important. We have a purpose and we know how we are to act, speak and think. We know why we’re here on earth and we know where we are going if we are faithful to God’s word. This list in Romans 12 gives us practical tips on how to handle the situations that come up in life. We have the key to a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life. We follow the Bible because it is practical. It contains wisdom and knowledge that is found nowhere else on earth. It provides a map to salvation and it gives us the answers to life’s problems.
The story is told of an old man who was wandering in the desert looking for water. He approached an old shack and on the porch area he found a water pump.
Next to the water pump he saw a one gallon jug. A note on the jug said, “Use all the water to prime the pump.” The man’s instincts said to drink the water and not trust the pump. Nevertheless he poured the water into the pump and began pumping until an abundance of cool water came to the top. The Bible is like the note on that water jug. Sometimes the instructions contained in the Bible do not make sense to us, but it is always right. The commands given to us from God are practical. He knows what is best for His own creation. They help us in our decisions, and they teach us how to act and think. We can have confidence in knowing that our lives are based on the perfect commands of Scripture.
Carl Pollard