Three-in-One: The Relational GodNäide

God's Fellowship (4)

Living Sacrifice

The first verse of Romans 12 starts with "therefore" or "so" depending on what version of the Bible you read. They mean the same thing and they are code for: “Pay attention to what you just read because what comes next depends on what came before it.”

In the verses before Romans 12, Paul retells the long history of Israel, God’s chosen nation and people, which is told in full in the Old Testament. Paul highlights just a few of the many times God showed mercy to people who disobeyed him, ignored him, rejected him, and denied him.

Then Paul reminds his readers that God’s love and mercy aren’t just for Israel. They are for everyone.

Paul also admits that it can be hard to understand why things happen the way they do. Why doesn’t God just fix everything? Why doesn’t he just make everyone believe him and love him? Why doesn’t he just put everything back to the way he made it, before sin destroyed things? Why doesn’t he just stop bad things and change bad people?

Here is Paul’s answer: God’s wisdom, knowledge, decisions, and plans are profound. We can’t understand them. We are foolish to think otherwise. Which makes sense because he is God and we are not. Everything comes from him. Everything exists through him. He is the one true almighty Lord and King.

Therefore ... (read Romans 12 to see what Paul says next).

Reflect

• Why do you think a renewed or transformed mind is necessary for becoming a new person?
• What do you learn about God in these verses? (When Paul writes "God" he almost always means the Father.)
• What do you learn about Jesus in these verses? (When Paul writes "Lord" he almost always means Jesus.)
• What do you learn about the Holy Spirit in these verses?
• What do you learn about humanity and yourself in these verses?