Dedicated Service

1Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this [c]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4For just as we have many parts in one body and all [f]the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, [g]in proportion to one’s faith; 7if [h]service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8or the one who [i]exhorts, in the work of [j]exhortation; the one who gives, with [k]generosity; the one who [l]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9[m]Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [n]give preference to one another in honor, 11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13contributing to the needs of the [o]saints, [p]practicing hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute [q]you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be [r]haughty in mind, but [s]associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17Never repay evil for evil to anyone. [t]Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [u]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

[a] 1 Or pleasing
[b] 1 I.e., in contrast to offering a literal sacrifice
[c] 2 Or age
[d] 2 Or discover
[e] 2 Or pleasing
[f] 4 Lit the parts
[g] 6 Or in agreement with the faith
[h] 7 Or office of service
[i] 8 Or encourages
[j] 8 Or encouragement
[k] 8 Or sincere concern
[l] 8 Or provides care
[m] 9 Or Love has no
[n] 10 Or outdo one another in showing honor
[o] 13 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
[p] 13 Lit pursuing
[q] 14 Two early mss do not contain you
[r] 16 Or arrogant
[s] 16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things
[t] 17 Lit Take thought for
[u] 19 Lit give a place