Romans 12:1-8
So far we have seen what God has done for us. Ch. 12-15 teach us what He now expects on our part. The Lord has acquired all rights over our lives. Let us present to Him what belongs to Him: our bodies, as a living sacrifice (by contrast with the dead victims of Jewish worship) in order that He may work through them. But before serving Him, it is needful that our transformed mind should discern the Lord’s will (read Colossians 1:9-10). Whatever might appear otherwise, His will is always good, and acceptable and perfect (weigh up these words) . . . by the simple fact that it is His will (v. 2; John 4:34). It is also necessary to keep watch over our thoughts and to judge them, so that they may remain thoughts of humility and not self-satisfaction, thoughts that are sober and not defiled.
Vv. 6-8 list some of the gifts of grace: prophecy, ministry in the assembly, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling the flock . . . All these activities, you may say, are not my concern – they are for Christians who have age and experience. Well! the last is certainly for you, whoever you are and whatever your age: "he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness" (2 Corinthians 9:7).