3 Things I Want To Share With You

3For 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. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:3-8 NKJV

Here are a 3 things that jumped out at me this morning while reading...

#1 Deflate Your Inflated Ego—Paul warns us, “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think.” In other words, slow your roll. American society has cultivated a sense of entitlement and consumerism and, unfortunately, this has made its way into the church. People show up week after week sitting in THEIR seat, crossing their arms unless it’s THEIR song, waiting for what THEY can get out of the message, and then going home. Church has become all about WHAT I want and HOW I want it. It’s not about you and what you GET; it’s about Jesus and what He GAVE (which happens to be something you can get…irony?). I would like to suggest that when we are looking out for what we can get, we settle for a GLIMPSE of the goodness offered to us, instead of experiencing it in its FULLNESS. Don’t think of yourself too highly or you just might miss out on what God’s really trying to do in your life.

#2 In A Family There’s Always Chores…I Mean Responsibilities—Paul says, “we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function.” This means WE’RE ALL FAMILY and I’m here to tell you in a family we got CHORES (notice I said ‘got’ not ‘have’..ya feel me?). I’m not talking about a couple tasks you perform for a weekly allowance, but maybe I am. It takes a LOT of work to run a church service and the right people for the work just so happens to be you and me and everyone else in the building or sleeping in at home. We get in there and get dirty. We SERVE others and are SERVED ourselves by others. The people, which means you and I, make it all happen. As for the ‘allowance’; I believe we are ‘paid’ in LIFE CHANGE. I don’t know about you, but I get excited to no end when I see someone make the decision to receive Christ. It’s the BEST! It’s a CELEBRATION! Money can’t buy that. In a family there’s always chores.

#3 I Got Mines, You Got Yours—Paul continues, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” I’m not gifted like you. I don’t share the same passions as you. I’m not trying to go to the same places and do the same things as you. I’m not you. God created each and every one of us differently so TOGETHER we can reach MORE people! I can do some things. You can do some things. Separate that’s ALL we’ll ever do…SOME things. Together we can do SO MUCH MORE! When someone doesn’t do their part, that is, when someone’s NOT serving, someone MISSES OUT! We all want to see the miracle, but not everyone wants to work towards it. I don’t know about you, but I want to see it and experience it and I want you right there with me! I got mines, you got yours.

Reflect:

• In what ways do you think more highly of yourself than you should?
• Are there certain tasks or jobs you believe to be ‘below’ you?
• How has God grown you through serving in His church?
• What’s keeping your from doing your chores?
• Why are we better together?