If Possible

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

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“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” 
Romans 12:18

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

2 Timothy 2:22-26

  “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:24-25

  • According to 2 Timothy 2:22-26, what are we called to flee?
  • Instead, we should pursue what?
  • We are also called to avoid what activity?
  • How are we to approach our opponents?
  • Why are we called to correct our opponents misconceptions with gentleness?
  • In your opinion what is the difference between quarreling & correcting?
  • We do not have control over how others act or react, only in the way that we act or react. How does 2 Timothy 2:22-26 help you to understand, “so far as it depends on you”?
  • We are the example of God’s love…we are the example of God’s grace…we are the example of God’s truth. Ask the Lord to guide you as you stand firm in His truth & share it with gentleness.

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Remember, it does not say, “walk away” or “avoid”. No it says, correct your opponents with gentleness.  Praying for you!

Rest

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  
for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.  
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest,so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:9-11 ESV

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True Wisdom

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Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage

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As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.”
Proverbs 27:19

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What is your heart reflecting today? Jesus reminded us that it is from our hearts that our mouth speaks (Mark 6:45). What are your words saying about your heart? Ask the Lord to create in you a pure heart so that you can walk in His ways and love with His love. Praying…

Live It

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

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“…but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” 
Romans 12:17b ESV

“Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.”
Romans 12:17b NLT

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

 ” Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT

  • How does Peter describe our position in this world?
  • As Christians we are foreigners in this world because our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), for this reason we are called to act in what way?
  • Write down  some synonyms of the word honorable.
  • According to 1 Peter what results from our honorable behavior?
  • Ask the Lord to help you act in a way that brings Him honor in all things.

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Bring God honor by acting honorably! Praying for you!

Pay-Up

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

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“Repay no one evil for evil.” 
Romans 12:17a

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

 ” For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
1 Peter 3:17

  • As humans our immediate reaction is to lash out… or react to whomever is doing us harm. But, what does Romans 12:17a about how we are called to react?
  • How does 1 Peter 3:17 bring clarity to the Romans passage?
  • We are not facing this alone… what does 2 Timothy 1:7 tell us about the Spirit in us?
  • God has given us a Spirit of power and self control. He is our strength. Claim Psalm 119:14-15 now & use it whenever you feel attacked.

“You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.”
Psalm 119:14-15

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Do good… and remember – Jesus has overcome the evil of this world! Praying for you!

Wise guy

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

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” Never be wise in your own sight.” 
Romans 12:16c

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

 ” Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’”
Jeremiah 9:23-24

  • Where does wisdom come from (Proverbs 2:6)?
  • We may believe that we have such great ideas, or our knowledge surpasses others. But what is the truth about our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9)?
  • According to Jeremiah 9: 23-24, in what do we boast?
  • We are to boast that we know Him. Not that we are wise, or mighty or rich… No that He is the Lord!!!!  What are the attributes of God that underlined in verse 24?
  • God is so far beyond our complete understanding, but we know our wisdom comes from Him. We know that His love is steadfast, He makes us righteous, and His justice will prevail. In a time when human wisdom is often hailed as truth, what do these verses reveal?

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Wisdom comes from the Lord… Continue to search out His word so that His wisdom will be yours! Praying for you!

As good as it gets

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

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“Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.” 
Romans 12:16b

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27

  • Paraphrase Romans 12:16b.
  • As Christians we are not to think of ourselves as better than anyone. Still, according to Luke 10 who are we called to love first.
  • Our love of God is entire and complete. Write down each way we are called to love God.
  • Honoring God by being faithful to Him and to His word must come first in our lives. What is the second great commandment?
  • It is so easy to think of ourselves first or better than others, but here we are told to love others as we love ourselves. Think of the ways you sometimes love yourself or put yourself above others.
  • Confess this now and ask Him to help see ways you can serve the lowly so that they will see His love and give Him glory!

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We never know who we are entertaining when we choose to help those in need (Hebrews 13:2). Seek to serve God by loving our neighbors. Praying for you!

Pray

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First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,who gave himself as a ransom for all.
1 Timothy 2:1-6

It’s Okay to Cry

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How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

“Weep with those who weep.” 
Romans 12:15b

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

John 11

“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35

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  • Sometimes people just need to know you understand where they are. They need to share their pain and know they are in a safe place. In the midst of his pain and the “advice” of his friends, Job responds in this way, “Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!” What does that tell us about how to comfort?
  • Looking back to the story of Lazarus, Jesus knew that he would raise him from the dead. He knew that the sadness of his friends would turn to joy, and yet he wept. He felt their pain and wept. What does this reveal about how our perspective on an event shouldn’t shape our response to those who weep?
  • Pray that the Lord would help you to love in a way that meets the needs of those who weep.

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May the Lord equip you with compassion and love to comfort the way He did.