Romans 12:3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, accordingly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Oh Friends, it’s a new day, one filled with new hope, mercy, grace, forgiveness and blessings! Wow! Moreover, our names and pictures are not in the obits. And all God’s people joyfully proclaimed: ‘Thanks be to God, who provides His people with all they need!’ And it’s certainly wonderful how He does that my brethren! Now here’s a fresh slant to the New Year’s resolution business, attributed to Hal Borland: ‘Year’s end is neither an end or a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us.’ I like it because there’s no arbitrary line for stopping and starting, but a simple continuation. And it certainly releases us from the pressure of making serious decisions over the Christmas season, when we’re ill prepared because we’re either too happy or too sad and thus not very realistic. This way you only need to make one resolution, to improve. Then later on, when things calm down, you can look at areas that need improving and do something concrete about them. Anyway, let’s turn to our Bit, which is a rather important statement in the conduct of the true believer. As usual, Bruh Paul doesn’t mince words: ‘For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.’ Yesterday we looked at the first part of the Bit, re the grace of God given to Bruh Paul. Now let’s look at the next part, which we all know about, but the problem is whether or not we practice it; whether we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to? And to be realistic Friends, in this cowardly new world, self-aggrandizement, in fact downright lying about our capabilities is the name of the game. But please remember what Cousin Sol says: ‘It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search (seek) their own glory is not glory.’ (Prov.25:27) Unfortunately that’s the lifestyle being advocated today; that of individual glory, and sadly it’s flowing over into the Church. But Bruh Paul’s message was that the righteousness of God would cause the believer to adopt a position of humility in the local church, re their spiritual gifts. That’s because it’s possible to either overestimate one’s self and try to exercise a gift not truly given by God, or on the other hand underestimate yourself and not properly exercise one’s God-given gift. For as he says at the end of the Bit: ‘as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.’ Yes Friends, everyone has been given a spiritual gift through God’s grace, so that we can serve Him and contribute to the growth of His Church. ‘But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.’ (Eph.4:7) And as Bruh Paul goes on to explain to the Roman church: ‘For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (function): So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one (individually) members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…’ Oh Friends, the long and short of the story is that Christ’s Church is one body, a whole consisting of different members or parts, and each member or part has been given a different spiritual gift, to perform a different function in the church. Now it’s very important that we stick to the gift and function we’ve been given, not try to be involved in what we’re not called to do, and consequently forsake our calling. But is that happening in our local churches today? I doubt it, for some believe that they’re called to do everything, thus there’s a high level of resentment, confusion and divisions showing up in many churches. Ah mih people, I don’t know what to say, or how to solve the problem, so I’ll just let Bruh Paul takes us home with a few examples of what he means: ‘…whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberality); he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.’ (Rom.12:6-9) Friends, I implore us to think on these things and behave accordingly, so that Christ and His Church will be glorified. Much LOVE!…Christ’s Church will only be truly uplifted…when brethren truly dwell together in unity and harmony…
SCRIP-BITS 