| I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. | And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. |
| And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. | Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. |
| For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. | Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. |
| For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. | Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. |
| Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
| Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. | Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. |
| Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. | Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. |
| Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. | Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. |
| Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. | Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. |
| Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. | Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. |
| Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. | Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! |
| If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. | Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. |
| Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. | Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. |
Related topics
Obedience
Jesus answered and said...
Life
The LORD shall preserve...
Thoughts
Search me, O God...
Community
And let us consider...
Dependence
For I, the LORD...
Love
Love suffers long and...