Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

 Romans 12:1-21

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.

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

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

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 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.

Out of sheer love, and at great cost, God has saved his people's lives. Ought they not to be offered back, so that God can transform and renew the,? This will mean a complete re-orientation, changing outlook and attitude as well as behavior.

The transformation begins as individuals take their place in the new 'family' of Christ. Our own stock must go down: our opinion of others, up. The gifts God gives are to be used for the good of the whole Christian community. Love is the hallmark. We are to serve God without flagging. Old attitudes must change - not only towards fellow Christians but towards the outside world. Instead of giving tit-for-tat when we are wronged, we treat the enemy as our best friend and leave God to do the judging.

Why?

God loves us so much, so we have to love others as we can. So be humble and kind to treat everyone. First, love our brothers and sisters for we are a body.

Transformed us by renewing of our mind, for everything is started from our heart.

Do not follow the custom or common treatment of this world but love others as we can, Bless those who persecute us. It is very difficult to love our enemy, but this is the lesson to us in our life.

Do our job according to our gifts from the Lord. If it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. It is our attitude toward life.

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信仰如何活出來？

因為萬有都是歸於神，所以我們當獻上自己身體為活祭：生命是神的，為主而活，讓主的心意在我身上。

聖潔：分別出來的。生命、權柄、一生屬於神，不再屬於世界，不屬於自己。

不要傚法這個世界，離開這個世界，這樣才能查覺神善良，存全的心，明白神的旨意前提是獻上自己，為主而活，不是辛苦反而是恩典！1)對神:要奉獻。

2)對自己:不要自高，要謙卑，依據信心看的合乎中道，我們常常依據能力、才華、經驗、恩賜才有信心。此信心是依靠神的信心。屬靈生命到那裏，信心就到那裏。

3)對肢體，憑信心程度，彼此服事。一般恩賜可以學來的，一些特殊性的恩賜不能學來的。照信心程度，照著順服神的心而講預言。專一：是指忠心。施捨應當誠實，是為了對方的需要，不是彰顯自己，不是為收買人心，治理人的要誠實就是如此，有權柄的，為我所服事的人，不是為自己。憐憫人要甘心：即幫助軟弱的人，有同理心。

4)對仇敵要有以善報惡。不要為自己伸冤，世界是以惡報惡，眾人以為美的事，要留心要謹慎去做，大家都在做的事，不一定對。以免我們跟隨了世界的潮流。聽憑主的怒。炭火堆在他頭上：反而讓他害怕，與我們作對，對他沒有好處。我們是以聖經為標準，不是以法律來定，因為法律是人定出來的。

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How?

Love is our core of Chrisitan, do our best to honor the name of the Lord. Be joyful in hope.