1Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshipping him in the right way.2Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.
Serving one another in the body of Christ
3God’s grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the faith God has given to each of you.4Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose.5So also we are many people. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts.6We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have.7If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach.8Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.
Love in action
9Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.10Love one another deeply. Honour others more than yourselves.11Stay excited about your faith as you serve the Lord.12When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.14Bless those who hurt you. Bless them, and do not curse them.15Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad.16Agree with one another. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Don’t think that you are better than others.17Don’t pay back evil with evil. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right.18If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can.19My dear friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, ‘I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back,’ says the Lord. (De 32:35)20Do just the opposite. Scripture says, ‘If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads.’ (Pr 25:21; Pr 25:22)21Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Ro 1:5; Ro 11:20; Ro 12:16; 1Co 7:17; Eph 4:7)4For as in one body we have many members,[5] and the members do not all have the same function, (1Co 12:12; Eph 4:4; Eph 4:16)5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Joh 17:11; 1Co 6:15; 1Co 10:17; 1Co 10:33; 1Co 12:20; 1Co 12:27; Eph 4:13; Eph 4:25)6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (Ac 13:1; 1Co 7:7; 1Co 12:4; 1Co 12:7; 1Co 12:10; 2Ti 2:15; 1Pe 4:10)7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; (Ac 6:1)8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[6] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (1Co 12:28; 2Co 9:7; 1Ti 5:17)