Tonight in our third study in Romans 12, we're looking at Spiritual gifts and how the body of Christ works together. Here's how Paul starts out our section tonight in Romans 12:3...
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
The part that stands out to me is when he says that instead of thinking too highly of ourselves, we should think soberly. That literally means "level-headed". It's the same word used in Mark 5:15 when the people from a village find a man that had put the village in an uproar because of his raging insanity. Jesus had exorcised the demons by the time they found the man, and instead of running around, naked and in complete insanity, it says there he was, "sitting and clothed and in his right mind."
"In his right mind" is the same Greek phrase as Romans 12:3 - "think soberly."
Do you get it? In effect, Paul is saying "If you think that your natural gifts and abilities make you something special and your ego swells because of them, you're out of your mind!" He tells us to get in our right mind and remember the source of our gifts: they're from God, for others. They've never been about you and they never will be...
You're a great teacher? Then TEACH to God's glory!
You've been blessed financially? Then give generously!
You know someone in need? Then help them out!
You're insane, out of your mind, and crazy to think that you are something so special that everyone needs to be serving you and you should just sit back and enjoy your awesomeness. After all, our God is different than the rest - He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment