Message for the month March 2008
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 v 3
This can so easily be taken to mean that, as Christians, we are to look down on ourselves, have low opinions of ourselves and go around with low self esteem. This scripture however does not tell us not to think highly of ourselves, but not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Big difference. To think soberly of ourselves means to realise that we are a new creation in Christ, that we are created in His image and that He "sees no spot in us." (Song of Solomon 4 v 7), but at the same time to realise that we are not more important than other Christians, nor are we more righteous than others, and nor have we reached such a spiritual level that we don't need God as much as we used to.
Let us never become like the Pharisee in Luke 18.
But let us never put ourselves down either.
