Scripture Read: Romans 12:3-8 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. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness
Application: We all know faith is the essential trait that we must have to walk close to God. This verse seems to say that different people have different levels of faith - is that possible? What does this mean - "according to the proportion" ... We need to understand this –
Proportion - ἀναλογία analogía; from aná denoting distribution, and lógos account. According to the prophet’s power of faith to be receptive of this special gift, and to apprehend it if granted to him, would be the intensity and truth of its manifestation. It would seem that prophets might be in danger of mistaking their own ideas for a true Divine revelation (cf. Jer. 23:28): and also that they might speak hastily and with a view to self-display (see 1 Cor. 14:29–33), and that there was a further gift of διάκρισις πνευμάτων required for distinguishing between true and imagined inspiration [1]
What does this do to our thoughts about whatvand how we share the truth of God with those who want to learn. The ability to share is clearly a gift directly from Him we need to handle this with care and a deep sense of responsibility. We must continue to share His Word in Love – but we must also share it in Truth – no matter how unpopular. We must continue to do our part through study to be good stewards of Your Word Lord while at the same time keep before us that because this is a gift we must depend on You to work when we teach or share. We need to "package it well" so people will want to listen – but that is all we can do – to touch the heart and spirit of man we need You – Lord speak through us until the day we die. Let us never stop learning how to share Your truth in the way You want it shared.
Meditation Questions: When we share with others about Christ, do they hear a sales pitch or a connection from you about your best friend? Is our goal to save someone or tell them that their Creator loves them and has given them a choice to make? Do we sound like we are talking about “stuff” we have memorized or about a Person (Jesus) we know and love?
[1] Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
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