Life in God's Service
1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.
17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20 Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
Kristus miesas locekļi
1 Es jūs aicinu, brāļi, Dieva apžēlošanās dēļ nododiet sevi pašus – tā ir jūsu apzinīgā kalpošana Dievam – kā dzīvu, svētu un Dievam tīkamu upuri. 2 Netopiet šim laikam līdzīgi, bet pārvērtieties, atjaunodamies savā prātā, lai jūs varētu izprast, kas ir Dieva griba – to, kas ir labs, tīkams un pilnīgs. 3 Jo žēlastībā, kas man dota, es ikvienam jums saku: neuzskatiet sevi par pārākiem kā citi, esiet saprātīgi, ikviens pēc tāda ticības mēra, kādu Dievs tam ir piešķīris. 4 Jo, kā mūsu miesai ir daudz locekļu, bet ne visiem locekļiem ir viens un tas pats uzdevums, 5 tā arī mēs, daudzi kopā, esam viena miesa Kristū, bet atsevišķi esam cits cita locekļi. 6 Un mums pēc mums dotās žēlastības ir dažādas dāvanas, un, ja kādam dota pravietošanas dāvana, lai tā izpaužas saskaņā ar ticību, 7 ja kādam ir kalpošanas dāvana, lai tā izpaužas kalpošanā, ja mācīšanas dāvana – mācīšanā; 8 ja kāds ir pamudinātājs, lai pamudina; kas dalās ar citiem, lai dara to dāsni; kas vada citus, lai dara to atbildīgi; kas dara žēlsirdības darbu, lai dara to ar prieku.
Kristīgas dzīves likumi
9 Jūsu mīlestība lai ir neliekuļota, nīstiet ļauno, pieķerieties tam, kas labs. 10 Brāļu savstarpējā mīlestībā esiet sirsnīgi, izrādiet cits citam vislielāko cieņu. 11 Gara dedzībā un kalpošanā Kungam nemitējieties būt uzcītīgi, 12 priecādamies cerībā, izturēdami ciešanās, pastāvēdami lūgšanās. 13 Esiet izpalīdzīgi svētajiem viņu vajadzībās, tiecieties būt viesmīlīgi! 14 Svētījiet tos, kas jūs vajā, svētījiet un nenolādiet! 15 Priecājieties līdz ar priecīgajiem, raudiet ar tiem, kas raud! 16 Izturieties vienādi cits pret citu, nedzenieties pēc augsta goda, bet saejieties ar zemajiem; neesiet pašgudri! 17 Neatmaksājiet ļaunu ar ļaunu, bet pūlieties darīt labu visu cilvēku priekšā. 18 Cik iespējams, no savas puses turiet mieru ar visiem cilvēkiem. 19 Mīļotie, neatriebieties paši, bet ļaujiet nākt Dieva dusmībai, kā ir rakstīts: man pieder atriebšana, es atmaksāšu, – saka Kungs. 20 Bet, ja tavs ienaidnieks izsalcis, paēdini viņu un, ja izslāpis, dod viņam dzert; tā darīdams, tu sakrāsi kvēlošas ogles uz viņa galvas. 21 Neļauj ļaunumam sevi uzvarēt, bet uzvari ļaunu ar labu!
