Passion and Faith

"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Rom. 12:3


My word for 2014 and the study of it has come in part because of another study I am presently doing.  Yes...only I would be crazy enough to do Beth Moore's Esther study and another in depth Bible study at the same time :)  Sometimes, you just can't get enough of God's Word!  I have to say that I am being fed in a way I haven't experienced in YEARS!!! 




As I studied Esther, the thing that struck me most is that the Jewish people had become so acclimated to the culture of the Persians with whom they were residing that they were no longer distinguishable as Jews.  Persian people living next to Jewish people may not have even known their heritage or that they belonged to the living God.  There was no difference between them and the world.



God spoke directly into my heart...and birthed this study...and He is changing my life. 




Romans 12:1-3 are some of my favorite verses.  I had a hard time discerning where the Spirit wanted me to focus when I first sat down with them yesterday morning.  I prayed, I asked for focus and perception and clarity.  I decided to chew on this one for awhile. 




Satan would have us believe that being different than our surroundings is a bad thing.  That we need to conform, accept, be tolerant.  But, right here in Rom 12, Paul tells us do to the exact opposite.  We are instead to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind".  I believe I've gotten a pretty great game plan through the previous Scriptures I have studied the past two weeks.



-Commit my day to the Lord
-Kill the flesh
-Be useful to the kingdom by losing my interests and looking for God's
-Boldly share my faith
-Mimic my Father
-End the day in reflection




There are two things God and I had some conversations about with verse 3.




1.  I am not to think too highly of myself.
     In this verse, Paul uses 3 different forms of the work phroneo.  He tell us not to think (phroneo) too highly of ourselves (hyperphroneo- high minded, conceited), but to think (phroneo) so as to have sound judgement (sophroneo-sober minded, sensible, to curb one's passions).  I don't think any of us have a hard time thinking we are better than others.  I'd be lying if I said I'd never had those thoughts...and so would you.  The most humble among us has still been plagued with a puffed up self image at one time or another.  Especially when it comes to the gifts the Spirit has so graciously given.  Teachers, prophets, encouragers, servants...we all have the fleshly desire for recognition.  Thus the reason Paul tells us to have sound judgement about ourselves.  Yes, we are unique but ONLY because the Spirit has given us gifts for the express purpose of expanding the Kingdom.  We are to curb our passions and be sensible!



As an encourager, I have to be more passionate about telling what GOD wants me to say and less passionate about ME being heard.  That means being quiet most of the time.  For those of you who know me, you know that's a long, hard battle LOL  Paul even tells me how to accomplish this in verse 12 by "rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer".
 


2.  I am given a measure of faith.
    I must admit...this one had me stumped.  Greg and I discussed it over breakfast this morning and we bounced some great stuff around.  Paul clearly states that each person is given a measure of faith.  But how much?  Do we get more?  Who has more and who has less?  Hmmmm....




    Greg's insight was that it's great to know that everyone has their own measure of faith.  Yours and mine is different.  That eases the burden, doesn't it?  There is no need to compare my faith to someone else's because God's the only one who knows just how much I was allotted.



The question is, What am I doing with what I am allotted?  Do I only have faith to get out the bed in the morning and put feet to the floor?  Or do I use the faith given to me to accomplish something for God? 




If you don't know what spiritual gifts are being manifested most in your life, than I encourage you to find out!  You can't use them if you don't know what they are and how to use them.  If you aren't using your gifts, I bet you feel like you lack purpose in the body of Christ or you might feel restless.  The link below is a great site to take a free spiritual gifts assessment:


http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1




Let's go walk in the faith given to us!!