Monday, February 12, 2018

Devotional: Thinking Soberly


"For 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."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A few weeks ago when my daughter and I were driving to North Carolina, we had the opportunity to stop in Las Vegas.  It's not an opportunity I care to repeat.  The traffic is terrifying!  At any rate, we mangaged to find our way to the Chipotle where we were to meet Sarah's friend who would show us around The Strip.  

Not too far from where we met and had a late lunch, was a McDonald's.  In an effort to look as high class as all the other venues up and down The Strip, their sign was all decked out with sparkly lights.  It was quite comical to us and we had a good laugh over it.

That McDonald's sign illustrates the Biblical principle that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.  Scripture doesn't say this, but when we have a higher opinion of ourselves than what we should have, it makes us look kind of silly, like that McDonald's sign in Las Vegas.  Pride never looks good on anyone.  

This Scripture says we are to think soberly in contrast to thinking highly of ourselves.  Interesting.  When we have a higher opinion of ourselves than we should, we are not thinking in a sober manner at all.   

We are to remember that God has given each of us a measure of faith.  None of us is better than the other in this business of faith.  We are not to compare our faith to another's faith or vise versa. This is not thinking soberly.  This kind of comparison can only lead to one of two things. 

1. Becoming discouraged because we don't measure up to Joe Blow's faith
2. Becoming proud because we think our faith is stronger than Joe Blow's faith

We need to maintain an even keel and not fall in the ditch on either side.  That is a hard balance to maintain, but God can keep you in the middle if you look to Him alone and not at everyone else.  



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