I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to
God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by
testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think
with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that
God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the
members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are
one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use
them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our
serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts,
in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one
who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with
cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is
good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another
in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be
constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek
to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,
for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he
is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will
heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
