Romans for Youth
Commentary by Pastor Ron Beckham

Romans Chapter 12

Verse 1.  “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

What is “worship?”  It is to give yourself – to God!  You think your body is yours, but it is really His.  To be “spiritual,” to “worship,” is to give Him what already belongs to Him anyway – yourself!

Verse 2.  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Don’t waste much of your time trying to be like other people.  Let God change your mind.  He will show you HIS will.  What HE wants is “good, acceptable and perfect” – for you!

Verse 3.  “For 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.”

Paul saw himself as he was – a sinner saved by grace.  In the same way, WE should understand that any faith we have is not something we did.  “Faith” like everything else, is God’s gift to you and me.

Verse 4.  “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,”

Your toes do one thing, your fingers another, and your nose something else, but they are all part of your body.  They do different things, but they are yours.

Verse 5.  “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Just as your fingers and toes and nose are different from one another, but they are all part of your body, so it is with people!  We are different but we are all “one” in Christ!  We are all part of the “body” of believers in Him.

Verse 6.  “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;”

Everything we have is a “gift” from God and He’s good at giving.  When we trust in Jesus, we are each given much in His Spirit.  The “gift” called “prophesy” is God telling something about Himself through someone like you.

Verse 7.  “if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;”

God may help you “serve” others and He’ll make you able to help them.  If you are called to “teach,” then do so with everything you’ve got.

Verse 8.  “or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

If you are gifted to “exhort” (encourage) others, then do so.  If you are to “give,” then do it freely.  If you are a leader, be a good one.  Smile, inside and out, when you care for others.

Verse 9.  “Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Don’t be a pretender.  Delight in God and love people because you love to do it.  Don’t do bad things, and stay away from those who are bad.  Always do that which is “good.”

Verse 10.  “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”

Not everyone loves their brother, though it’s right to do so.  Look to God – He will help you learn to love.  It is right to love our Christian brothers and sisters, and we should be GLAD when they do well.

Verse 11.  “not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;”

Some people try HARDER than others do.  Some WORK and others don’t.  God gives us strength, courage inside and the power to do what’s right.  You WILL be able to serve the Lord.

Verse 12.  “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,”

Those who love the Lord will go to heaven, which is our great hope and it gives us JOY!  When things are tough, He will give us strength that will get us through, and all of us will learn to pray – and like to do it!

Verse 13.  “contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

It’s time for us to GIVE to those who have less than we do, and to make sure they are welcome in our homes, hearts, and our lives.

Verse 14.  “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

What should you do when somebody is mean to you?  Pray for God’s blessings on them.  Don’t ever “curse” them.

Verse 15.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Is somebody you know happy?  Be happy with them and for them.  Is somebody sad?  Let them know you care and be willing to cry with them.

Verse 16.  “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

All of us are just the same in the sight of God.  No one is better than anyone else.  Be friends with those who seem to be less.  Don’t think you’re somebody special.

Verse 17.  “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.”

If somebody hurts you, don’t hurt them back.  Respect what is right by doing good.  Down inside, we all know what “good” is.

Verse 18.  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

If you can, don’t fight or argue with anyone.  Be a peacemaker.

Verse 19.  “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

If somebody hurts you, don’t hurt them back.  Let God take care of it.  This verse is from Deuteronomy 32:35, where it says, “Vengeance is Mine…”

Verse 20.  “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

This verse quotes Proverbs 25:21-22, and it talks about your “enemy,” the one who does not like you.  Surprise them by doing NICE things for them.

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

Don’t be ruled by those who treat you badly.  Do “good” for them and they will be changed by the love of God in you.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org