Becoming Great in God’s Eyes Part 2
Tools for Serving
(Romans 12:1-6)
(Romans 12:1-6)
Romans 12 helps us discover our motivational gifts and through those we serve God. But before we get to the gifts, we are given four instructions:
Stand near and present all of who you are to God as a living sacrifice.
Don’t become so well-adjusted and comfortable with this age that you are walking in step with them. Don’t lay the pattern of the world on the fabric of your life, and start cutting to fit.
We are to be transformed by the renewing of our thinking.
“If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer. If God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.” – Warren Wiersbe
Do not think more highly of yourself. This literally means to be intensely interested in one’s self.
“A lack of humility does not present itself as vanity. Sometimes it presents as low self-esteem.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson
1 Corinthians 4:7 – For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
We Have To Know The Facts About Our Gift
Everyone Has a Measure of Faith
Everyone has the ability to believe God to receive a portion of faith to exercise the gift that He has given. For example, those with the gift of faith have a measure of faith that allows them to believe, in the financial arena, in a way differently than others.
Everyone Has a Specific Place
We are one body, but individually we are limbs of one body. We all are part, but we have a specific function. The differences in our gifts make us unique. The differences make us unified.
“There is no difference in value, only function.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson
Everyone Has a Special Grace
In Romans 12:6, we see the phrase, “having then gifts differing according to the grace…” In this text, gifts means charisma, abilities, and/or spiritual endowments. And grace means God’s influence on the heart that reflects through our life. So one version of this text would be, having then abilities differing according to God’s influence on the heart.
“God has given each of us a grace that manifests itself through a gift.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson
Everyone Has a Spiritual Responsibility
In Romans 12:6, we see the ending phrase, “let us use them”.
“Who gives someone a gift that does not expect them to use it?” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson