Romans 12 is the turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
For eleven chapters, Paul has talked about the Christian faith in doctrinal and theological terms. Now, he’s going to talk about the Christian faith in everyday or “country boy language” — where the rubber meets the road so to speak.
“Therefore (having talked about doctrine and theology), I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.”
— Romans 12: 1
This one verse — this one choice to place God at the center of your life — lays the foundation for the rest of the book of Romans, calling believers to completely and fully love God. And the first thing he does is settle on the core of the foundation laid down in verse one — making the right choices in life.
Did you know female guppies, given a choice, prefer the males of their species with more orange in their bodies rather than those with less? Life is filled with choices and most have nothing to do with our faith, but some do. And it’s important that we make the right choices in matters of faith.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
— Romans 12: 2
The first verse lays the foundation in our commitment to, and love for, God. Then in this second verse, Paul talks about getting our minds right.
For all our lives we’ve lived by the rules of the world. We’ve done what was expected of us by parents, teachers, friends, TV, movies, the internet, by the world.
It’s part of growing up and learning to make the right choices. Now, as mature Christians, created in the image of God, we’re called to live like it.
Someone said, “life is a series of choices.” The first thing God did after creating Adam and Eve was give them a choice — and sadly they blew it!
Now, Paul is telling us both the Bible and the Christian faith talk about making the right choices. In fact, John carefully organizes his gospel around a series of seven miracles and seven choices: light and dark, life and death, new and old, spirit and flesh, right and wrong, true and false, free and slave.
The Christian life is a series of making the right choices.
Did you know male tungara frogs can add syllables, called “chucks,” to their mating calls to increase their attractiveness to their female counterparts? But those “chucks” are also are attractive to frog-eating bats so the male tungara frog chooses to limit the number of his “chucks” to stay safe.
The male tungara frog has to balance his need for a mate with the risk of losing his life!
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
— Romans 12: 9
You should understand the Biblical meaning of hate. It means to dislike, to avoid, to turn away from, and to walk away from evil. Paul is telling us to walk away from what is evil and walk toward what’s good. God is good.
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga.
