Sunday Scripture

 

 Again this Sunday, I'm sharing from the Made for Community reading plan from Love God Greatly that I worked on back in 2015.  With this study, as I have often done, I used the SOAP method of Bible study.  Just a quick reminder that the S is for Scripture, O is for Observation, A is for Application and P is for Prayer.  The eighth section is Made for Community Challenge Week.  So here we go with the Scripture for the second day of that section.

S= "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality ... Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  (Romans 12:13, 21)

O= Paul has begun chapter 12 by instructing the believers -- indeed, by beseeching them -- to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God, which is simply their reasonable service.  He has added that they are not to be conformed to this world, but are to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they may prove the will of God.  

He goes on to list many of the ways this transformation is lived out by use of one's spiritual gifts, both within and outside of the family of God.  Verse 13 deals with our fellow believers: we are to be "distributing to the necessity of saints."  Here are some cross-references:

"But to do good and to share forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."  (Hebrews 13:16)

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging."  (1 Peter 4:9)

Verse 13 of Romans 12 goes on to add that believers should be "given to hospitality."

Then Romans 12:21 states that believers are not to be overcome by evil.  Instead, we are to overcome evil with good.  The cross-reference here points back to verses 1 and 2.

A= Am I doing good and sharing with my fellow believers? I try to; that's certainly my mindset.  Over the years my family and I have also been definitely "given to hospitality".  And it is such a blessing!

And how about when evil comes my way?  Am I overcome by it?  Sometimes I do feel overwhelmed by it.  But instead, my response to evil should be to overcome it with good.  

As I look at this, verse 13 seems to be a natural result of using my spiritual gifts (two of which are giving and hospitality).  Verse 21 can only be lived out as I yield myself to God as a living sacrifice with a transformed mind.

P= "Lord, I pray that You will help me in the areas I've considered here.  Giving, and showing hospitality, come fairly easily to me as as a result of the spiritual gifts You've given me.  But I must admit there are times when I don't feel hospitable, and I need help from You.

"Overcoming evil with good, however -- that does not come easily at all.  When I'm able to do this, it is completely supernatural.  In my flesh, it would never even occur to me.  When I am faced with evil in any form, I pray You will help me not to be overcome by it, but instead to overcome it with good.  I thank You for all You'll do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's the Sunday Scripture for this week.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!