Romans 12:12-16 (NIV)

Romans 12:12-16 (NIV)
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with God'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.

Who are you to become? What are you to become? We are to be a cheerful people. One of the characteristics of a follower of Christ is that of joy. Notice the new twist. We are to be joyful in hope. When tough times come we are to be patient. We want patience, but we are like the person who prayed, "Lord give me patience and give it to me now." We are to be faithful in prayer. It would be good right now if you stopped reading and prayed to your heavenly Father. Try to do that throughout the day. We are no longer to conform to the ways of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. If you haven't noticed these are all commands. We become what we think and do! We are to be a generous people. We are to share with God's people who are in need. It is so easy to become consumed with our stuff. Two words--practice hospitality. Is your heart and home open to others. Now the tough stuff. We are not only to walk away when being persecuted we are to bless them. This is why you need to read Romans 5-8 before you read these words. We are dead to sin and alive to God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Here is another real kicker. We are to rejoice when others are rejoicing and mourn with those who mourn. Paul makes no allowances for our feelings at this juncture. We are commanded to do it. Paul breaks down the social class system with these words in verse 16. Are you proud? Are you conceited? What do you do to live in harmony with other people? I plead with you not to read these verses too fast. Let them sink into your soul.

Christianity does not teach a doctrine of weakness. But the strength it gives a man is quite different from his natural strength. It is a God-directed strength, doing what God wills. It wins great victories, but they are only over evil and self, not the destructive victories that are won over others.

Paul Tournier (1898–1986)