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READING FROM THE DAILY BREAD
December 1, 2025
Title (Don’t Do This Alone)
Today's Scripture Romans 12:3-15
Today's Devotional
As I opened the bookshelf assembly instructions with piles of boards and tools strewn on the floor before me, I viewed a set of instructional diagrams of what to do and what not to do. One diagram—with a large X on top—depicted a person staring at a pile of boards and tools with a bemused frown not unlike mine just a few minutes prior. On the right side was drawn the “correct” way to assemble. The only difference? A second person was there. Both figures now had smiles on their faces as they worked together.
So I got my husband. “The instructions say I need your help,” I said, showing him the drawing. He laughed, and we assembled it together. I could have stubbornly tried to find a way to put it together on my own. But the manual was right; the process wasn’t meant to be done alone.
In Romans 12, Paul urges new believers not to try to do life in Jesus alone. Instead of seeing themselves as self-sufficient and thinking of themselves “more highly than [they] ought” (v. 3), they needed to see themselves as part of an interdependent body, where every member needs each other’s help (vv. 4-8).
As Jesus helps us learn how to “be devoted to one another in love” (v. 10), we can experience life “in harmony” with each other, where one another’s needs, griefs, and joys (vv. 13, 15) are never carried alone.
Today's Insights
After laying the theological groundwork in Romans 1-11, chapter 12 represents the beginning of Paul’s practical call to action. Previously, the apostle articulated what God did to create His family. As part of that family, believers in Jesus have many joys and blessings but also responsibilities and opportunities. For example, we’re to be “devoted to one another in love” (12:10), which is just one of many “one another” commands found in the New Testament. These instructions relate to how we interact with those in the body of Christ. Jesus, who loves perfectly, helps us love others and share in their griefs and joys.