Offered: In Love | Part 3
What does a life fully offered to God actually look like when people hurt you, life gets difficult, and loving like Jesus feels impossible?
In the final message of Joy Church’s Offered series, Pastor Dave Miller closes out Romans 12 by showing what surrender looks like when it becomes visible in everyday life.
Romans 12:9-21 gives us a challenging picture of sincere love: hate what is evil, cling to what is good, honor one another, stay spiritually fervent, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, practice hospitality, bless those who hurt you, rejoice and mourn with others, live in harmony, refuse revenge, and overcome evil with good. This is not just a list of Christian behaviors. It is a picture of Jesus.
1. THIS IS WHAT JESUS LOOKS AND ACTS LIKE
Romans 12:9-21 points us toward the character of Christ. Jesus does not repay evil for evil. He loves, serves, forgives, blesses, gives, and lays His life down for others. The Word of God does not make us the center. Jesus is the center, and our offered life is meant to look more and more like Him.
2. WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
Some commands in Romans 12 can feel impossible: bless those who hurt you, practice hospitality, forgive, live at peace, and overcome evil with good. But Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, “With God all things are possible.” The key is WITH God. Mark 16:20 says the disciples went out preaching and “the Lord worked with them.” Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. God does not merely command us and leave us alone. He comes alongside us and helps us live what He has called us to live.
3. THE OFFERED LIFE BECOMES VISIBLE THROUGH GENUINE LOVE
Romans 12:9 begins, “Love must be sincere.” Ephesians 5:1-2 calls us to imitate God and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Jesus put skin on love. He made the love of God visible, tangible, and personal. That means sometimes loving like Jesus looks as simple as sitting beside someone who is grieving. Romans 12 tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. You may not have the perfect words. Sometimes your presence is the ministry. Luke 6:27-35 takes that love even further: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who hurt you. The love of Christ compels us.
4. GOD WANTS TO LIGHT YOU UP AND PUT YOU ON A STAND
Romans 12:11 tells us to keep our spiritual fervor while serving the Lord. We are called to stay spiritually alive, full, and burning for Jesus. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world.” A lamp is not lit to be hidden. It is put on a stand so others can see the light and glorify God. God wants His love in you to become visible through the way you respond when you are hurt, challenged, misunderstood, or treated unfairly. Your response may become the very thing that points someone to Jesus.
5. IT’S OUT OF YOUR HANDS
Romans 12:19 says not to take revenge, but to leave room for God: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” Then Romans 12:20-21 tells us to feed our enemy, give them something to drink, and overcome evil with good. How do we actually do that? 1 Peter 2:21-23 shows us Jesus. When He was insulted, He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. There is freedom in leaving your case in God’s hands. You do not have to carry revenge. You do not have to fix every wrong. You can entrust it to God, pursue peace as far as it depends on you, and keep walking in love.
KEY TAKEAWAY: An offered life becomes visible when we look like Jesus. • Love sincerely. • Stay close to God. • Let Him help you do what feels impossible. • Stay spiritually on fire. • Shine where He has placed you. • Leave revenge in His hands. • Overcome evil with good.
CALL TO ACTION: Read Romans 12:9-21 again and ask the Holy Spirit:
1. Which part of this is hardest for me right now?
2. Who do I need to forgive, bless, serve, or make peace with?
3. Where do I need to stop saying “I can’t” and start trusting that with God, it is possible? Then bring that area to Jesus and let Him work with you.
