ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (OCTOBER 12, 2011)

10.08.11
Take a Look at Yourself
Romans 12:1-8



"...think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you...We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."
(Romans 12:3, 6)
Self-assessment is not easy. Some of us are prone to think of ourselves more highly than we ought while others are filled with self-loathing. Neither is good, so Paul encourages us to think with sober judgment. He is urging us to be honest with ourselves and really contemplate who we are.
Clearly every human being is unique as a product of genetics, environment, etc. At the core of who we are, however, is a gift from God referred to here as "the faith God has given you." That faith manifests itself in the gifts identified by Paul in Romans - prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy.
Can you identify how God has graciously gifted you? It may be tempting to read over this list and think, "I cannot do any of those things." Yet we know that we as believers are all part of the one body, each contributing as God has enabled us. So look closely. There will be gifts that the Lord has cultivated that you can contribute to the work of the body of Christ.
INSIGHT
Think soberly. Give yourself to whatever ways God presents to you and find joy in His will for you.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 57-58
Psalm 99
Acts 22
Romans 12:1-8
A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.