What does it look like to live as a Christ-follower in a chaotic world? Romans 12 gives us clarity when everything else feels confusing. This message walks through three specific callings: represent Jesus Christ, be reasonable, and be a peacemaker — showing how believers can shine as lights in the darkness of uncertainty and fear.
Represent Jesus Christ
If you’re a child of God, you represent Jesus Christ more than anything else in your life — whether you realize it or not. The Bible refers to those outside the family of God as “outsiders,” and how we act toward them matters deeply because we’re ambassadors for Christ.
Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 5:19 — one of the most important passages on this topic:
“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
— 2nd Corinthians 5:19-20
That phrase — “God making his appeal to the world through you” — should stop us in our tracks. If you’re a follower of Christ, God is appealing to the world through you. The question is: how appealing does God look to your co-workers based on your life?
Paul modeled this in 1st Corinthians 9:21-23 — every time he met someone, he thought: “How can I meet them where they are so that they might see Jesus Christ in me?” That’s how we should approach our relationships. We’re going to represent corporations, ideologies, politics, schools, and teams throughout life, but none of those give the world the hope it needs. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
Be Reasonable
Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”
The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Do not be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all.” How appropriate is that for us today?
“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”
— Philippians 4:5
The world is full of irrational, unreasonable people right now. The body of Christ needs to show the world how reasonable we are. Think of it like a stoplight — red light (extreme fear) or green light (angry overcompensation). Neither extreme is wise. Yellow light — the middle — is the reasonable place to be.
We shouldn’t be basing all of our actions on extreme fear, but at the same time, we shouldn’t make decisions from anger and frustration trying to prove how brave we are. Both extremes are dangerous. When we act based on emotions — whether fear or anger — we’re not being wise.
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
— Proverbs 16:32
Proverbs 15:31 adds: “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” We need to listen — to facts, to wisdom, to each other. That’s what reasonableness looks like.
Be Peacemakers
Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Jesus says in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” As the world gets crazier, the people who have peace in their lives are going to shine bright — a beacon of light, reasonableness, and hope for those who don’t have it.
The world needs peace, and God uses us to show it to them. Consider the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14). When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he started to sink — because when he took his eyes off Jesus, he had no peace. He saw all the problems around him and began to sink.
That’s what happens to us when we take our eyes off Christ. But when our eyes are on Him, we have a peace that passes all understanding — and the world is watching to see that peace in us.
This is our calling in life: to bring peace to the world as Christ’s ambassadors. The world is watching us and trying to find out what is true and what is worth following. The answer is Jesus.
Scripture References
- Romans 12:14-18 — Living in harmony with the world
- Colossians 4:5 — Walking in wisdom toward outsiders
- 1st Thessalonians 4:12 — Walking properly before outsiders
- 1st Timothy 3:7 — An elder must be well thought of by outsiders
- 2nd Corinthians 5:19-20 — Ambassadors for Christ
- 1st Corinthians 9:21-23 — All things to all people
- Romans 12:16 — Do not be wise in your own sight
- Philippians 4:5 — Let reasonableness be known
- Proverbs 1:5 — The wise hear and increase in learning
- Proverbs 15:31-32 — He who listens to reproof gains intelligence
- Proverbs 16:32 — Slow to anger is better than the mighty
- Romans 12:18 — Live peaceably with all
- Matthew 5:9 — Blessed are the peacemakers
- Matthew 14:22-33 — Peter walks on water
- John 16:33 — Take heart, I have overcome the world