Romans 12 marks a
major turning point in Paul's letter. Verse 1 begins:
"Therefore…". It's a good rule
of Bible understanding and interpretation that
"when you see the word 'therefore' you should look backwards and see what
it's there for!" Well, Since
1:18, some 10 1/2 chapters, Paul has been expounding and explaining the Gospel
and how it is powerfully at work in people's lives, transforming them to become
more like Jesus (8:28-29a). This is the
"God's mercy" he writes about in 12:1. And so, in light of everything
he has been writing about - the Gospel, the mercy of God - what, as Gospel-believers, should be our
appropriate response to all God has done and provided for us in the Lord Jesus
Christ? Paul says: Therefore… offer your bodies as living sacrifices to
God; this is your spiritual (or 'reasonable') act of worship. In other
words, the most appropriate thing for us to do in light of all that Jesus has
done for us is a continuous, selfless, sacrificial commitment to those within
the church fellowship (v2-21). 'In view of God mercy' provides the true and
enduring motivation for Christian service. As Jesus has mercifully died for us;
we should 'die to self' in order to lovingly live for those within the
congregational body. 
But as a dear friend
used to say: The problem with 'living sacrifices' is - they keep crawling off the
altar! So, when you're feeling
tired, or unappreciated in serving God's people; when you feel as if you've
given, and given, and given and you think you have nothing left to give,
remember: "In view of God's
mercy…" In view of the Cross, in
view of God's undeserved grace, in view of every spiritual blessing you have in
Christ… we serve, we teach, we encourage, we share, we lead, we show mercy
(v7-8), we love, we stay devoted, we maintain our zeal, we remain joyful in
hope, we are patient in affliction, we bless our persecutors, we rejoice and we
mourn, we live in harmony… (v9-21). We do all this (and keep on doing it - all
the verbs are in the present tense), in view of God's mercy. For the Gospel changes or renews our minds
(v2); we no longer live as the world lives (v2) because we no longer thinks as
the world thinks. This is the true, Gospel-inspired worship God expects of His
mercy-blessed people.
But the Gospel
changes more than just our relationships with our brothers and sisters within
the church fellowship. The Gospel also
changes our relationship with, and attitude to, those in authority over us
(Romans 13: 1-7), for, Paul says, they are God's servants - whether they
realise it or not - appointed by Him "to do us good" (v4). We may not
agree with the Government's policies, or particularly like certain politicians
- but we are not to show disdain to them, but respect them for their God-given
role, and - in general - submit to their leadership and lovingly pray for them
to govern with wisdom and righteousness (see Acts 4:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
And similarly, the
Gospel changes our relationships and attitudes to our neighbours and those
around us within society (13:8-14). Some of them - in work, in college or
class, living next door, some even within the wider family circle - may make
our lives a misery. They may be a real
'thorn in our flesh' (2 Corinthians 12:7-8).
But our obligation to them, says Paul, is to love them (13:8,10). To
love them as our merciful God loves us; for a touch of true, selfless,
Christlike love is probably what they desperately need.
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