Romans 12, verse 9 through 13, let love be genuine, abort what is evil, hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with a brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the

Lord. Rejoys in hope. Be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, contribute to the needs of the Saints,

and seek to show hospitality. Amen.

Father, I'm so thankful for grace and mercy.

That and mercy, that we don't have to deserve salvation, and that you look down with great patience upon your earring children, where would we be without Christ and his blood and his resurrection and his reign and his

intercession on our behalf. We would be undone, we would be lost, we would be

perishing. Father, I pray that out of the abundance of this grace, we would be lavish givers with

open homes, loving guests, in the power of a living Christ.

And so come and apply verse 13 of Romans 12 to this church.

Make us lavishly generous people

and make our homes open, welcoming, Christ exulting, hope-giving, peaceful, loving places for strangers to come.

I pray for your help to this end in Jesus' name,

amen.

How do you live when you know, when you know and feel

that your life moment by moment is sustained by totally undeserved mercy. That's what Romans 12 is written to answer. Remember verse 1?

I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God I appeal to you therefore on the basis of everything that I have said in Romans 1 to 11 I

appeal to you on the basis of the wrath of God and the mercy of God.

I appeal to you on the basis of everything I've shown you

about the deity of Christ and about his death and resurrection and reign and

intercession. I appeal to you on the basis of everything I've shown you about the

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