Romans 12 ..... Goal Oriented

Happy Love Day ♥ The Best Gift to Give Myself!

When I first started attending Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos during the later part of 2012, I continuously heard Pastor Chip and Pastor Tim talk about becoming R12 Christians.

I was confused, thinking what is that?  I didn't really look into what it meant at the time, and until I heard a sermon online did I understand what they were referring to.

Let me skip ahead to the present.........

I've been on a 40 day reading plan with the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  In the book it states, "If you don't have any Bible verses memorized, you've got no bullets in your gun. I challenge you to memorize one verse a week for the rest of your life." (I set my goal to begin with 365 Days) The chapter I had been reading was referencing temptation, Day 27 of the book - Defeating Temptation.  I realized that I knew nothing by memorization, and needed to arm myself with God's Word against Satan and the evils of this world so when I'm tempted I will be able to do as Jesus did, counter by quoting Scripture.

Days after reading that, I had made a trip to the local CVS store to pick up a wire bound index card book to write down the verses I choose to memorize to begin this journey.  This was no accident.

Currently, I am attending a Bible College Class.  I had missed the previous week and wasn't aware of a homework assignment that was due until a classmate mentioned "homework."  The assignment was to (1) choose an attainable goal and (2) list secondary goals to help attain the original goal. God's timing was PERFECT!  

Now back to becoming an R12 Christian - Below is what I am striving to become outlined from my church's web site and with this assignment of "goals" and the commitment to memorize a bible verse a week for the next 365 days, why not memorize the Book of Romans first!

What is an “r12″ Christian?
Being a genuine disciple of Christ flows out of a relationship with Him. It’s about experiencing God’s grace, not earning His love through performance. A real relationship with Jesus Christ will produce a follower whose life looks progressively more like His life. Romans 12 provides a relational profile of an authentic disciple: someone who is surrendered to God, separate from the world’s values, sober in self-assessment, serving in love and supernaturally responds to evil with good. Christians who live out this kind of lifestyle are what we call r12 Christians. God is willing to go deeper and grow you into a real disciple… are you ready?

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

¹ 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. ² 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.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ 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. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ 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; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ 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 in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


So for the next 52 weeks I've committed to myself and GOD to memorize His Word beginning with the Book of Romans 12.  I'm certain this journey will turn into a lifetime goal because I will always need the power of God's Word in my life. 
In faith I walk and ask God for the gift of a strong memory as I begin my first week of memorizing Romans 12. I'm excited to see God's work in and through me!