Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 18
Sunday


A NEW
BUCKET LIST

READ:
Romans 12:6-21
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Be kindly affectionate
to one another with
brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to
one another.
__Romans 12:10
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A friend told me he had recently accomplished one of the things on his "bucket list" (a list of things to do before you die) when he took his sister to Europe. Although he had traveled there many times, she had never been there. What struck me was the unselfish nature of having that goal on his "bucket list." It caused me to wonder how many of my dreams and goals are focused on others, not on myself.

Romans 12:6-21 speaks of God's gifts to us as members of the body of Christ and how we should use them in everyday life. All of them are outward in focus. Teaching, for example, is not for the teacher's self-fulfillment but for the benefit of others. So too with the other gifts mentioned in verses 6 through 8. Paul summarized this openhanded approach by urging us to "be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves' (v.10 NIV).

Paul exemplified this attutde by including others in his ministry and investing his life in the next generation of believers. Generosity, hospitality, forgiveness, and compassion guided his behavior.

Our gals in life should include giving away the gifts God has given to us. __David McCasland

`````````````````````````Grant us, then, the grace for giving`````````````````````
`````````````````````````````With a spirit large and free,````````````````````````
````````````````````````````That our life and all our living```````````````````````
````````````````````````We may consecrate to Thee. __Murray````````````````````
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For a healthier spiritual life,
exercise humility and care for others.

************************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 12:6-21****************************

6 Having then gifts
differing according to the
grace that is given to us, let
us use them: if prophecy, let
us prophesy in proportion
to our faith; 7 or ministry,
let us use it in our
ministering; he who
teaches, in teaching; 8 he
who exhorts, in exhortation;
he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads,
with diligence; he who
shows mercy, with
cheerfulness. 9 Let love be
without hypocrisy. Abhor
what is evil. Cling to what
is good. 10 Be kindly
affectionate to one another
with brotherly love, in
honor giving preference to
one another; 11 not lagging in
diligence, fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, patient
in tribulation, continuing
steadfastly in prayer;

13 distributing to the needs
of the saints, given to
hospitality.

14 Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do
not curse. 15 Rejoice with
those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep. 16 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.

17 Repay no one evil for
evil. Have regard for good
things in the sight of all
men. 18 If it is possible, as
much as depends on you,
live peaceably with all men.

19 Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give
place to wrath; for it is
written, " Vengeance is Mine,
I will repay, "says the Lord.

20 Therefore "If your enemy
is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him drink; for
in so doing you will heap
coals of fire on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with
good.