THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 12:3-8
“Think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:8)
Paul seems to suggest that we all have different amounts of faith.
In 1 Corinthians 12:9 Paul says that faith is a gift that some people receive.
Some people say that ALL faith is a gift, and that only some people get it.
(In other words, God didn’t choose to save them by giving them faith).
My sense is that there is a distinction needed between initial faith and bold faith.
All of us can choose to believe, but some are given a special gift of bold faith.
All of us can choose to speak, but some are given the special gift of words of knowledge.
All of us can choose to serve, but some are specially gifted this way.
Some people have extraordinary confidence in God, like normal faith on steroids.
God has not made them better, this happens to be their gift for God’s purpose.
I have other gifts, but extraordinary faith is not one of them.
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” (Romans 12:3)
The person with bold faith is not better than the person with ordinary faith.
The person with the gift of healing is not better than… you get the point.
God works in each of us uniquely, STOP thinking of yourself as better or less than other Jesus followers.
Your gifts are exactly what God had in mind for you, and for the world, at this time.
We can certainly try to GROW in faith, serving, speaking, etc…
But it is the Spirit who distributes these gifts, so we always rely on Him, and credit Him.
So stop bragging about your strengths, or beating yourself up about your weaknesses.
Your hope, my hope, our confidence… is in Jesus!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, whatever my gifts are, they ARE gifts. Thank You for equipping me to be useful in Your kingdom.