Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.

Romans 9; Romans 10; Romans 11; Romans 12
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Scripture

Romans 12

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the LORD.

20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Observation

Ordinary people…who are the ordinary people who are in your life? Maybe it is the waitress where you go to eat after church or maybe it is the person at the dry cleaners that takes your clothes, or maybe it is a neighbor living right next door that you haven’t gotten to know. Take time for the ordinary people that God brings into our lives.

We may find out that some of those ordinary people are extraordinary once we get to know them.

Application

Jesus took time to go out and talk with the ordinary people of His day: prostitutes and tax collectors seemed to be right up there on the top of his list. I will look for an ordinary person today to talk to.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t think You ever see people as ordinary, but we do. Help me see people like You see them. Help me look past their outward appearance and help me see them for who they really are. I realize that I too am very ordinary and the only thing that makes me different is my relationship with You. I have no right to look down on anyone. Give me Your eyes and Your heart for the people that I will come in contact with today.

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