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A Living and Holy Sacrifice

¹ Therefore ^(C1)I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to ^(C2)present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your ^(F1)spiritual service of worship.² And do not ^(C1)be conformed to ^(C2)this ^(F1)world, but be transformed by the ^(C3)renewing of your mind, so that you may ^(C4)approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and ^(F2)perfect.

³ For through ^(C1)the grace given to me I say to each one among you ^(C2)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to ^(C3)each a measure of faith.⁴ For ^(C1)just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,⁵ so we, ^(C1)who are many, are ^(C2)one body in Christ, and individually members one of another,⁶ but having gifts that ^(C1)differ according to the grace given to us: whether ^(C2)prophecy, ^(F1)in agreement with the faith;⁷ or ^(F1)(C1)service, in his serving; or he who ^(C2)teaches, in his teaching;⁸ or he who ^(C1)exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with ^(F1)(C2)generosity; ^(C3)he who ^(F2)leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with ^(C4)cheerfulness.

⁹ Let ^(C1)love be without hypocrisy—by ^(C2)abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good,¹⁰ being ^(C1)devoted to one another in brotherly love, ^(F1)giving preference to one another ^(C2)in honor,¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, being ^(C1)fervent in spirit, ^(C2)serving the Lord,^12 (C1)rejoicing in hope, ^(C2)persevering in affliction, being ^(C3)devoted to prayer,^13 (C1)contributing to the needs of the ^(F1)saints, ^(C2)pursuing hospitality.

^14 (C1)Bless those who persecute ^(F1)you; bless, and do not curse.^15 (C1)Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,¹⁶ by ^(C1)being of the same mind toward one another, ^(C2)not being haughty in mind, but ^(F1)associating with the humble. ^(C3)Do not be wise in your own mind.^17 (C1)Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, ^(F1)(C2)respecting what is good in the sight of all men,¹⁸ if possible, ^(C1)so far as it depends on you, ^(C2)being at peace with all men,^19 (C1)never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead ^(F1)leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, "^(C2)VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.²⁰ "^(C1)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."²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.