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Dedicated Service

¹ Therefore ^(C1)I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to ^(C2)present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, ^(F1)acceptable to God, which is your ^(F2)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 ^(F2)(C4)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and ^(F3)acceptable and perfect.

³ For through ^(C1)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(C2)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 ^(C3)each a measure of faith.⁴ For ^(C1)just as we have many parts in one body and all ^(F1)the body's parts do not have the same function,⁵ so we, ^(C1)who are many, are ^(C2)one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.⁶ However, since we have gifts that ^(C1)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if ^(C2)prophecy, ^(F1)in proportion to one's faith;⁷ if ^(F1)(C1)service, in the act of serving; or the one who ^(C2)teaches, in the act of teaching;⁸ or the one who ^(F1)(C1)exhorts, in the work of ^(F2)exhortation; the one who gives, with ^(F3)(C2)generosity; ^(C3)the one who ^(F4)is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with ^(C4)cheerfulness.

^9 (F1)(C1)Love must be free of hypocrisy. ^(C2)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.¹⁰ Be ^(C1)devoted to one another in brotherly love; ^(F1)give preference to one another ^(C2)in honor,¹¹ not lagging behind in diligence, ^(C1)fervent in spirit, ^(C2)serving the Lord;^12 (C1)rejoicing in hope, ^(C2)persevering in tribulation, ^(C3)devoted to prayer,^13 (C1)contributing to the needs of the ^(F1)saints, ^(F2)(C2)practicing hospitality.

^14 (C1)Bless those who persecute ^(F1)you; bless and do not curse.^15 (C1)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.^16 (C1)Be of the same mind toward one another; ^(C2)do not be ^(F1)haughty in mind, but ^(F2)associate with the lowly. ^(C3)Do not be wise in your own estimation.^17 (C1)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. ^(F1)(C2)Respect what is right in the sight of all people.¹⁸ If possible, ^(C1)so far as it depends on you, ^(C2)be at peace with all people.^19 (C1)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but ^(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; 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.