12 So then, brothers and sisters, with compassion from God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—your logical and sacred service. 2 Don’t conform to the norms of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, then you’ll all be able to accept and approve God’s will that’s good, pleasing, and perfect.

3 Because of the grace which has been given to me, I am saying that every one of you should not think of yourself to be more esteemed than what’s appropriate, but rather to be sensible about what you think of yourselves according to how much faith God has allotted to each of you. 4 [ref]Just like one body has many components and each individual component works differently, 5 so too all of us are part of one body in Messiah and we’re all parts of each other. 6 [ref]We have gifts according to the special grace that was given to us: maybe prophecy then do it according to the proportion of your faith, 7 or service then serve, or teaching then teach, 8 or encouraging then encourage, or sharing then be generous, or leading then do it earnestly, or showing mercy then do it cheerfully.

9 Let your love be without hypocrisy, deploring evil but being united in doing good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, preferring to honour one another above yourselves. 11 Be diligent rather than reluctant with a spirit that’s zealous to serve the master. 12 Be cheerful about your hope, enduring persecution and consistently praying. 13 Contribute to the needs of the believers and practice hospitality.

14 [ref]Bless anyone who persecutes you—be a blesser and not a curser. 15 Be cheerful along with others who’re happy, but weep along with those who’re weeping. 16 [ref]Treat others all the same—not treating some as higher and being condescending to those who’re poorer. Don’t act shrewdly.

17 Don’t return evil to anyone, but do good to everyone. 18 If it’s possible for you all, be at peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, don’t take revenge on others, but leave it to God’s severe anger, because it’s written:[ref] ‘The master says, Vengeance belongs to me—I’ll be the one to repay.’ 20 [ref]But if your enemies are hungry, then feed them, and if they’re thirsty, then give them a drink, because you’ll be leaving them to their own shame and judgement. 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodness.