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.
1 Es jums lieku pie sirds, brāļi, Dieva žēlsirdības vārdā nodot sevi pašus par dzīvu, svētu Dievam patīkamu upuri, tā lai ir jūsu garīgā kalpošana. 2 Un netopiet šai pasaulei līdzīgi, bet pārvērtieties, atjaunodamies savā garā, lai pareizi saprastu, kas ir Dieva griba: to, kas ir labs, tīkams un pilnīgs. 3 Tad nu es ieteicu ikvienam starp jums tās žēlastības vārdā, kas man dota: netiekties pāri noliktam, bet censties sevi apvaldīt saskaņā ar to ticības mēru, ko Dievs katram piešķīris. 4 Jo, kā mums vienā miesā ir daudz locekļu, bet ne visiem locekļiem ir vienāds uzdevums, 5 tāpat mēs daudzi kopā esam viena miesa Kristū, bet savā starpā visi esam locekļi. 6 Kad nu mums, pēc mums piešķirtās žēlastības, ir dažādas dāvanas, tad lai tās, ja tās ir pravieša spējas, izpaužas saskaņā ar ticības mēru, 7 kalpošanas spējas - kalpošanā, spējas mācīt - mācīšanā; 8 pamācīšanas spējas - pamācīšanā, kas dod no sava, lai to dara vientiesīgi, kas valda, lai dara to rūpīgi, kas strādā žēlsirdības darbu, lai dara to ar prieku. 9 Jūsu mīlestība lai ir neliekuļota. Nīstiet to, kas ļauns, pieķerieties tam, kas labs. 10 Brāļu mīlestība jūsu starpā lai ir sirsnīga. Centieties cits citu pārspēt savstarpējā cieņā. 11 Savā darbā neesiet kūtri, esiet dedzīgi garā, gatavi kalpot Tam Kungam, 12 priecīgi cerībā, pacietīgi bēdās, neatlaidīgi savās lūgšanās. 13 Palīdziet svētajiem viņu vajadzībās, centieties parādīt viesmīlību! 14 Svētījiet tos, kas jūs vajā, svētījiet un nenolādiet! 15 Priecājieties ar priecīgajiem, raudiet ar tiem, kas raud. 16 Turiet vienādu prātu cits pret citu, neesiet iedomīgi, bet sniedziet roku zemajiem! Neliecieties paši gudri esam. 17 Neatmaksājiet nevienam ļaunu ar ļaunu, domājiet par to, ka varat labu darīt visiem cilvēkiem. 18 Ja iespējams, no savas puses, turiet mieru ar visiem cilvēkiem. 19 Neatriebieties paši, mīļie, bet atstājiet vietu Dieva dusmībai, jo ir rakstīts: Man pieder atriebšana, Es atmaksāšu, saka Tas Kungs. 20 Bet, ja tavs ienaidnieks ir izsalcis, paēdini viņu; ja tas cieš slāpes, dod viņam dzert. Tā darīdams, tu uz viņa galvas sakrāsi kvēlojošas ogles. 21 Ļaunums lai tevi neuzvar, bet pats uzvari ļaunu ar labu!
