“Serving With a Loving Heart”
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18
Paul is talking to the church in Rome, and he is encouraging them to LIVE in PEACE with each other. He didn’t want them to be DISRESPECTFUL to each other because, those who belong to Christ Jesus, make up the BODY of CHRIST.
They are the CHURCH!! The ones who have given their HEART and LIFE to God through the SHED BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST, the ONE and ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD. The ONE who SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE to give US ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.
The Apostle Paul wanted them to show their world that they were HONORABLE, LOVING PEOPLE. Because they were the BODY of CHRIST, they should treat ALL people with an HONORABLE AND LOVING HEART. And if they didn’t, they would be HURTING the BODY of CHRIST, because the BODY is made up of MANY DIFFERENT PARTS, some are arms, some are feet or legs, etc. And they SHOULD function SMOOTHLY and NOT be FUSSING and FIGHTING with each other. If there was DISSENSION among them, then they would be HURTING the CAUSE of CHRIST.
They SHOULD LIVE in HARMONY and PEACE with EVERYONE, even those who PERSECUTE them. They were to PRAY for God to BLESS them. And LEAVE the REVENGE to THE ALMIGHTY GOD. And Paul leaves them with this bit of information: “Don’t let EVIL conquer YOU but CONQUER EVIL by doing GOOD.” This is a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE to the BODY of CHRIST, the CHURCH, the TRUE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS!!
If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, then you are NOT a PART of the BODY or the CHURCH, or GOD’S FAMILY. And you will NOT be able to have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN but will spend it in HELL. In order to CHANGE that DESTINATION, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God. You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY from your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and SERVE Him with a LOVING HEART. Do this NOW, while you STILL can. He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND“