The following message is by pastor John Piper.

More information from Desiring God Ministries is available at

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Desiring God.org.

Let's begin with some thoughts here now from Romans about how to read a text like this

in a way that changes us deeply. There are 13 exhortations in just

verses 9 to 13. So suppose you get up in the morning and you've set yourself like a good Christian to read your Bible

before you head off to work. It's a good idea. You should do that.

So you've set yourself maybe to read a few chapters or let's say

Romans 12 is included may take you three minutes to read through Romans 12

which means that you give maybe 15 seconds to these 13

commandments, 13 exhortations. Let love be genuine. Abor what is outdo one another and show in honor, don't be slothful

in zeal, be fervent in the spirit, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, contribute to the needs of the Saints,

seek to show hospitality.

13 in five verses.

You've read them, 15 seconds on them, close your Bible,

pray, off to work.

How many of them can you even remember?

I mean, are you now fired up and totally? How many of them can you even remember?

Are you now fired up and totally engaged and renewed in all 13 new areas of your life?

Is that the effect of reading the Bible in the morning? It doesn't work like that, does it? So what

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