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Biblically, how are we to act while living in this fallen world, in a broken place with all the hard stuff going on around us?

How does the Bible instruct us to act? We’re going to take a look through the lens of Romans 12. Grab your Bible and a notebook.

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The Answer is God’s Word

The world is here. It’s full of sin, suffering, and decay. It’s challenging.

We’ve talked a bit about this recently because this is where we are. We are in a place that is dark, fallen, and reigned by the enemy. Yet, we are Christians unwavering in God’s grace.

How are we supposed to live our lives as true, Biblically-based Christians in this fallen world?

I recently attended a women’s conference and found the answer to this question. I struggle too. Like you, I struggle with falling into worry and anxiety; idolizing the news, or getting lost obsessing over whether it’s the end times.

While at this conference, I was reminded that there is a roadmap for every situation and problem we face in our lives when we turn to God’s Word.

God’s Word is the answer!

We were going through Romans 12 and clarity struck me. It was the roadmap of how I am supposed to live, especially right now. Hopefully, it will help you as much as it has me. 

It’s a goal. We’re not perfect and we’re not going to be perfect. But we can wake up each morning with the intention of being like Christ and follow this beautiful visualization of what it means to be a true, honest, and pure-hearted Christian. 

Yes, we’re going to fail, but I’d rather shoot for the Biblical roadmap and fail than follow how the world dictates that I should act.

I encourage you to open Scripture and do a deep dive into Romans 12 and journal. I’m going to go through how to apply each of these verses of Romans 12, but it’s deeper. You can listen to me and feel something, but your own deep dive is where the true transformation will take place.

Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, Brothers and Sisters, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship.“

What is this verse telling us?

These verses are packed with value and wisdom. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” When we talk about application, this is sacrificial living. Dedicate your life to serving God, serving others, being kind, generous, and selfless, and volunteering your time and finances. Your entire being is a sacrifice; your life is a sacrifice. It becomes holy and pleasing to God.

Living sacrificially is worshipping God. Any time I want to say no to something; I don’t have time for it or I don’t feel like being present, that sacrificial decision will be a pleasing act of worship to Him.

This looks to me like challenging myself before I take any action, to ask myself if it’s a sacrificial decision. Am I sacrificing something I want to do for something someone else needs?

It’s the application of true giving of your time, yourself, finances, and your desires.

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

The renewing of your mind is immersing yourself in God’s Word, meditating on His teaching, and engaging in prayer. This is how we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. 

Do you want to know what God’s will is over your life? We are told: Get in God’s Word!

Then… Scripture has a big ole T-H-E-N in here… If you want to know God’s will, you have to get into the Word. It’s not a maybe; it’s a must.

Then it promises us that God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect. If we want good, pleasing, and perfect in our lives, we need to read the Word.

For me, this is committing to that on a daily basis. I have a recent episode on non-negotiables and one of the non-negotiables for me is connecting with God.

Sometimes it’s reading one verse and meditating on it, active worship, prayer, or listening to a podcast about faith. The most important is a first-hand connection with God in His Word and in prayer. Second-hand sources are listening to a worship song or podcast, but opening the Bible, putting your hands on the pages, and reading the Word is what’s going to renew your mind.

Romans 12:3

“For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Humility is an essential quality. Humility is not thinking of ourselves more highly than other people; not judging. Thinking of ourselves with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God’s given us.

How do we cultivate humility? Recognize our abilities are gifts from God. We do not create our success. We are not creating things, but simply accepting them from God. Work in communion with Him to produce fruitfulness based on the gifts He’s given us. 

We need to avoid pride, self-righteousness, judgment, and gossip. Seek to serve others with love and gentleness.

For me, this is retaining my mind and mouth. I’m one of those people who has a thought come into my head and it comes out of my mouth right away. Don’t tell me a secret because I probably can’t keep it. It requires prayerful petition to the Lord:

“God, help me to look at others with love, gentleness, and compassion. I want to see other people the way You see them. Lift the veil from my eyes and guide me in graciousness. Help me to have humility and kindness as my number one reaction to people. I crush, in Jesus’ name, the spirit of judgment, pride, self-righteousness, and gossip. I decree and declare those will go in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord.”

Feel free to use that wherever you need help. We are anointed and appointed to have a strong prayer life and to speak words of life over ourselves, our families, and our businesses.

Romans 12:4-5

“For just as each of you has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, in Christ, we, though many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others.”

The second part is unity. Understanding that as a part of the Body of Christ, we are all interwoven. So we need to be supporting and encouraging each other. We should be engaging in community, fellowship, and mentoring each other. These are all things the world tries to steal from us, create barriers, and wants us to live in isolation.

For those of us with online businesses, it’s easy to hide in our homes and behind our laptops. I find myself there; I’m a closet introvert even though I can be extroverted sometimes. There have been times when I’ve been alone too long and I feel like I can’t go to the store by myself.

I have to push myself to go into the world and talk to people. So I go and I’m fine; I’m refreshed and it fills up my spirit. Remember it’s the enemy that wants to keep you alone, scared, lonely, and isolated. We have to remember that unity is a call of the Lord in Romans 12:4. We’re called to be with each other.

For me, this looks like talking to human beings; being in community with people. Not just virtually, but in person. Eye-to-eyes, listening to and serving them well. What does it look like for you? Journal about that and then do something.

A Romans 12 Story

Coming out of COVID, it was a struggle to be with people. It’s why I joined a mastermind that required me to fly to LA and meet with strangers once a month. I’m practicing putting myself out there in a new way. 

A couple of years ago, I didn’t want to have people at my home or host, but my husband had this calling to have people over and connect. God was impressing this on him and I was resistant to it.

Then I heard a whole sermon on Romans 12:9-13; sharing with people in need and practicing hospitality. My face got red and my gut felt like it had been punched. I felt like there was a huge scarlet letter on my forehead. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I saw my husband was staring at me!

I began to pray for a hospitable heart, that the Lord would soften my heart for service and help me be willing to get uncomfortable and be in community. Over the next few years, He did such beautiful work in me. 

God will highlight where you are weak. He will give you the answer if you are praying for it. 

I’m not afraid of God displaying the weaknesses I have; of Him highlighting things I need to change. If I’m going to become the most Christ-like person I can be, I have to be aware of where I am failing.

We all do. It’s God’s grace.

The work He’s done in my heart has been a beautiful gift not just for me, but for our marriage. Praise God!

I share because I’m not above this; I’m in it with you. Prayer and seeking God’s hand is going to get you what you need.

Romans 12:9-11

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Romans 12:9-13 talks about sincere love – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Love genuinely without hypocrisy. How often are we guilty of loving someone but when they’re not listening, you’re talking about them?

How do we show love to our families, friends, employees, and students even though they may be difficult to love? Even though they fail and are broken? It’s a test of loving people as Jesus loves us. 

Jesus could say, “I love them so much, but look at them judging, failing, being selfish, following the world’s way, idolizing their phones…” But He doesn’t do that. He looks at us in love. He has open arms and praise for us; He compassionately forgives us. And He guides us in how to grow. That’s what we need to do for those we love.

This is what I’m working on intentionally daily.

Romans 12:12

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

During times of affliction, hardship, struggle, anxiety, the news, social media addiction, and political unrest, all of it, we need patience and prayer. 

This is God’s plan. Even the messy. Don’t give up on petition and prayer to the Lord. He hears you.

There’s no perfect way to pray; you can be messy in your prayer life. You can yell or whisper; think it or scream it, cry or laugh. God hears you. He knows your heart. Even when you mess up your words, the Holy Spirit is praying on your behalf. Open your mouth and He shall fill it.

Romans 12:13 

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Hospitality is welcoming other people. How do we welcome people into our homes? How do we create a sense of belonging and comfort people in their time of need? Hospitality is bringing a meal to someone or reaching out with a phone call to someone who needs it. Mentoring someone, volunteering, what are you being called to do in a hospitable way that would serve others?

Maybe it’s out of your comfort zone like it is for me. I am growing in this area so much. God strengthens and comforts us in these moments of discomfort; and as we persevere, we grow and stretch. Our heart for compassion grows when we push through our own limits. 

Based on what you were taught or what you experienced, some of these things may be very difficult: love, hospitality, or sacrificial living. These things might be difficult and that’s okay. How do you grow through them so you’re living your lives at this optimal place? 

You get to pour out. You get to serve, give, and love. All of this is purpose. Do you feel empty, lonely, void, lacking, depressed, anxious, angry, or alone? These are the things that fill you up. These are the things that return favor in your life. Follow this roadmap and experience fullness in your life that you never anticipated. 

Romans 12:14-18

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” 

We are called to love our enemies, seek peace, and overcome evil with good. 

Love your enemies. This is hard. We are called to pray for those who mistreat us, are unkind, oppose us, and even leave us a bad review. God gives us opportunities to show kindness, forgiveness, and understanding. 

He allows us to be examples of what it looks like to handle conflict and difficulty as Christ would. When we pray for them instead of condemning them, we’re lifting them up to the Lord so He can deal with them. We don’t need to deal with our enemies; we need to allow God to do it.

God’s justice is always right.

God wants us to strive for peace;  to live peacefully with everyone; easier said than done. There’s so much conflict in this fallen world. But we’re called to create peace; to seek common ground. 

Whatever the situation, it’s in God’s hands. These are God’s people and He loves everyone. There’s never someone who is too far gone. There is never a situation that can’t be solved.

How can you create peace? Whether it’s in your mind or being careful of the words you speak. Think of yourself as a mediator.

The call from Romans 12: 14-18 is to live at peace with everyone wherever possible.

Romans 12: 19-21

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

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

Rather than taking revenge or responding to evil with evil, we come at it with love, kindness, and grace. We are to be the light in the dark, the salt. We are called to make the decision not to go down to the worldly level but to rise up to a Kingdom level.

Wrapping Up Romans 12

There is so much in Romans 12 and I wanted to go through it with you because it’s such a beautiful roadmap of how to live our lives in this fallen world. 

I encourage you to open your Bible and read Romans 12:1-21. Soak it in, and pull out what you receive from this word. These are the things I saw and am going to be actively applying. Maybe there’s something else that God has just for you.

A quick recap of living out Romans 12 in this fallen world :

• Sacrificial living
• Renewing your mind
• Living in humility
• Creating unity
• Loving sincerely
• Being hospitable
• Being patient and purposeful in your prayer
• Loving your enemies
• Promoting peace
• Overcoming evil with good

I pray that these verses are not just a guide but an action plan that you can be inspired by and live by to step into a place of hope, love, and purpose. Look for that full circle of fruitfulness that comes when we live in alignment with God’s Word and His Will.

I pray that you have all you need to find a peace that transcends all understanding.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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