Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Living the Christian life has it’s center in your mind, not your emotions, not you experiences, but in your mind. The apostle starts by presenting three areas for us to consider.
The first is, how should we think about ourselves? Romans 12. 3For 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 alloted to each a measure of faith. He’s telling us how to think about ourselves and how to not think highly of ourselves as well. If you run your life or form your life according to what people say about you, then you are being foolish in deciding who you are. The scripture tells us who we truly are as people. For example, the scripture states that we are all sinners. It’s what the Bible says about us and happens to be extremely accurate. No one is perfect. However, we are sinners saved by the grace of God for those of us who seek him everyday. Another example is that we are all helpless at living the spiritual life without God’s power working through us. It's simply impossible. Thinking with sound judgment is a gift from God to us however. We can analyze in our mind what God has done over time in ourselves. We are made in His in image and possess His characteristics and we have the choice of whether those characteristics are operated God-like in us, or man-like in us. This is a very sound judgment about us. When we let God work through us, we are being transformed inside. It’s something we can’t see, but something someone else can see over a long period of time. Not choosing to use these characteristics God-like makes us selfish and greedy.
Secondly, how should we think about our place in the Body of Christ? Romans 12. 4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. There is only one Church and each member if that Church has a function. We also must understand that we have one “body” and one boss, Jesus Christ. We are all brothers and report to the same boss.
Lastly, how should we think about the spiritual gifts we have from God’s grace? Romans 12. 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. These spiritual gifts are given to each one of us and are a supernatural capacity to administer to others. They are not talents. The Holy Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. The purpose of this spiritual gift is to build up the body. What you do helps the body of Christ grow, mature and develop. Their use displays God’s grace, and by grace, this isn't soething that we can earn, it is simply given to us. We can’t create them, earn them, or chose them. All parts of God are involved in our spiritual gift(s). Jesus directs where the spiritual gifts go and how they are used in our lives, the Holy Spirit supplies us with these gifts, and God empowers us with the ability to use them. The text gives us some evidence of what these Spiritual gifts are.
Romans 12. if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. There are seven gifts we can be given.
Prophecy (cause to shine)=expounding Scripture
Service (gift of “helps”) = doing helpful things for others
Teaches (imparting Biblical knowledge) = instructing people’s minds
Exhorts (encourages others) = building people up
Giving (gives liberally) = extraordinary financial support
leading (stands up) = prepares with integrity so others follow
Mercy (freely gives) = cares for the neglected
-Have you asked the Father to empower you to exercise your gifts?
-Have you thanked the Lord for your spiritual gifts?
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