A Reminder Of Our Responsibilities From Romans 12

A Reminder of Our Responsibilities from Romans 12:1-21

Quote: Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master".

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22.

1. REVERE our Sovereign God - vs. 1:"Therefore", (For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity) Romans 11:36 Praise God for all His wonderful attributes of power, love, and grace.

2. REMEMBER Jesus Christ - vs. 1: In view of God’s mercy. Failure to remember all of the mercies we have received can lead to complacency, indifference or resistance to God’s will. Let us come boldly before the throne of grace so that we may find mercy and grace to help in the time of need for we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was tempted like as we are yet without sin.

3. REVIEW AND REALIZE all of the blessings you have in Christ. - Vs. 1 - To view God’s mercies by looking at them with full reflection and consideration of His marvelous riches, resources and rewards. Count your blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

4. RENOUNCE all forms of internal and external evil - Abandon all claim or right to what is of the world, the flesh or the devil. Vs. 1 - To offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. Practice self denial and give up your own rights to the Lord and He will give you greater peace, meaning and wholeness than you could achieve with your own desires.

5. RESIST the temptations to conform to the world - vs. 2 - Do not give in to the pressures to fall in line with what is popular, prestigious or probably going to give you a promotion in the eyes of the world.

6. RECKON yourself as dead to sin and alive to Christ Jesus. Vs. 1 - Remember you have died with Christ to the old nature’s desires and you are now allowing the life of the Spirit to manifest the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

7. RENEW your mind - vs. 2 - To revive your thinking so as to restore Christ like thinking in all of your personal thoughts, relationships and activities

8. REPLACE that which is evil with that which is good - vs. 21 - Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with what is good.

9. REFUSE to internalize hurt, anger or feelings of discouragement. Vs. 12 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer

10. RESTRAIN from all forms of vengeance - vs. 17 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Solomon wrote, "Where there are many words, transgressions are unavoidable but he who restrains his lips is wise.

11. REALIGN your will with God’s will - vs. 2 "Then you will be able to test and approve (prove to be true) what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Just as we have to get the wheels on our car realigned occasionally so we need to realign our thoughts, actions and emotions with the Spirit.

12. REJOICE with those who rejoice. Vs. 15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice. Give praise, thanks and honor to the Lord consistently in your prayers to the Lord. Learn to joyfully associate with joyful, thankful and buoyant people. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. (Phil. 4:4)

13. RECONSTRUCT your life to be more like Christ in all aspects. Vs. 2 - "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Spend at least ten minutes every morning reading God’s word and asking the Lord to program your mind to His purposes for each day.

14. REJUVENATE your mind, emotions and will with God’s word. Vs. 2 - "By the renewing of your mind so you can test and approve God’s will." Let your strength, thinking and emotions be restore with youthful energy, power and enthusiasm.

15. RETHINK some of your motives. Vs. 16 - "Do not be conceited." Do not have an excessive pride in yourself or your own ideas. Put away fanciful notions about your own self-importance, independence and personal rights.

16. RELATE to people of low position - vs. 16 "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position." Do not only relate to people whom of your own social-economic or education status. Relate to people according to their felt, perceived and spiritual needs. Paul became all things to all men that by all means he may save some. (I Cor. 9:19-21)