A Daily Devotion for Monday, August 17
- ontrakk
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Romans 12:1-13
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
There is always an opportunity to be helpful to another. The challenge for me is recognizing it when it comes my way, and acting on it right away, before the opportunity passes, and before other thoughts and concerns crowd it out of my mind. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” And then, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Holy Lord, I feel like there are so many things in my head this morning, some thoughts crowding out other, more important ones. Help me to keep my priorities straight, and to remember what is important. Help me to see the opportunities in front of me to serve others. Amen
Becky, transforming
Monday, August 17th, 2026
Spot Check
(Focus: People with skin Cancer.
Today’s Reading: Romans 12:1-13
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
In today’s world this verse is telling us to offer immediate practical help if we’re able. Devote time and resources to people around us whenever we have the capacity to do so.
Give money, food, or unused items to local people or families struggling to make ends meet. Volunteer our skills and time to community projects, local food banks, or neighborhood support groups. Remember that even small gifts , like a warm smile or hug or a meal,can change a sad day into…
Romans 12:1-13. Proverbs 3:27. Spot Check
Today's Upper Room author reminds us of two important things. 1. We all have the capacity to serve others. 2. It is easy to miss opportunities to help others. We fill our days with so much busyness that we don't take the time to look arond to see who might need us. One of the simplest things we can all do easily is to pray for one another. Take your Sunday bulletin home and whenever you see it on the counter or desk, stop and pray for those on our prayer lists. There is nothing simpler and we all know the power of prayer.
Prayer: Gracious God, I pray I am never to bus…
Romans 12:1-13 / Proverbs 3:27
God has given me so much! I pray I do not miss the opportunity to help others. This Romans reading shows me that not everyone has the same role in God’s service. We all have different talents to offer; teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy, the list is endless and none of these talents are more important than the other.
Dear God, please help me to see opportunities to help others. Help me to use what gifts You have given me, not in just words but in the way I live. Amen.
Romans 12:1-13/Proverbs 3:27
The long Romans passage is brimming with lifestyle instruction, but it is paired with a single verse from Proverbs - “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.”
This led me to focus on a smaller section of Romans - “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” My take-away is that believers have been called in OT and NT times by God to cooperation, harmony and love. Cain brought us jealousy, resentment, envy and ultimately interpersonal violence driven by the sin of his parents, pride. The entire sweep…