Sober Judgment

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment …  Romans 12:3

We all know him. The guy who talks about himself incessantly. Like the guy next to me on an airplane once. He went on about himself for 45 minutes. I couldn’t get a word in. Finally, he paused and asked, “So where did you say you’re from?” Just the mention of my hometown reminded him of a trip there, which meant another 20 minutes of him talking about himself!

Another man invited his boss to his house for dinner with his family. All through supper the boss kept using this phrase, “I am a self-made man.” Finally having enough, the employee’s daughter leaned to her dad and said, “If he’s a self-made man, why did he make himself that way?!”

We don’t tend to like people who are arrogant, puffed up, and full of themselves. We use a lot of unkind words like pompous and conceited. Yet how often do we ourselves fall into the trap of thinking of ourselves “more highly than we ought,” to use Paul’s phrase (Rom. 12:3)? When we have a disagreement with a spouse, are we more interested in restoring peace … or being right and getting the last word? When we face criticism, do we choose to take the heat … or do we pass blame onto others? I believe that much of our criticism of others is much more about making ourselves look better by comparison than it is about prompting change.

The sad truth is that we often think of ourselves too much and consider others far too little. But this should not be the way of those who follow Christ. The common pattern of the world is to elevate yourself and tear down others. The uncommon way of Christ is to consider others better than yourself (see Philippians 2:3-8). Think about this: even Jesus Christ, who was God Himself, did not think of Himself highly. He lived with extreme humility and was even willing to die a humiliating, excruciating death — putting Himself below, while lifting us up.

If we follow Christ we should have the same humble posture. Rather than tearing others down, we are quick to understand, slow to judge, generous with forgiveness, rich in showing love, willing to serve, and sacrificial in lifting others up.

Prayer: Jesus, You gave me a great example of humility. Help me to have sober judgment, thinking of myself less and others more. Amen.

Transformed

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2

I think you’ll agree:  it is far easier to “go with the flow” than to work against the current. To conform to the way our society lives and thinks and acts … that doesn’t take much effort. To swim against the stream is hard. It takes intentionality. It takes effort. It means sometimes bumping painfully into those who are moving in the opposite direction.

The Christian life may not be easy; but God calls us to be different, in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16). We are to be a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9, KJV), uncommon, countercultural. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed …” (Romans 12:2).

You might ask: “How does that transforming happen?” Great question! Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “transform yourself.” He says, “be transformed.” A quick look at 2 Corinthians 3:18 gives us a clue — “we, who…all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed” (same word as Rom. 12:2) “into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Two key thoughts here: 1) the work of transforming is done by God, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My church, Faith Lutheran in Appleton, WI, has a vision statement that begins with these important words: “Transformed by Christ to live generous and purposeful lives.” God is doing the work. Paul says elsewhere that God, “who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

2) Notice God’s transforming work is a process. It is not a single event, but a lifetime of shaping. Isaiah likens God to a potter sculpting clay — “we are all the work of Your hand,” he says (Isaiah 64:8). God uses life experiences (even the hard ones) to mold us. He uses relationships with other Christians to correct and encourage us. But most importantly, God uses His Word, the Bible, to guide and shape our spirits. This is the most important reason why we memorize scripture, why we read devotions and listen to sermons that explain the Bible — God is using His Word for His work of transforming you by the renewing of your mind.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for Your transforming work in me. Help me commit today to knowing Your Word better. Renew my mind. Lead me to be more like Christ, and to live an uncommon life. Amen.

Things Above

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:2-3

Yesterday’s post (In View of God's Mercy) emphasized the critical phrase, “God’s mercy.” Our whole life depends on God’s mercy, so the person transformed by Christ owes everything to Him.

In Colossians 3, Paul makes a similar point: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). The uncommon life flows from Christ’s work. He raised us; we set our hearts and minds on Him. If we truly grasp what God has done in Jesus Christ, we worship Him and thank Him by turning to Him.

For just a moment, imagine attending a funeral where a young person’s body lay lifeless in a casket. Family and friends are mourning. It is a devastating scene. Imagine, however, that Jesus walks in the room, breathes new life into that dead body, and that young person sits up, walks around, and then lives for many more years. Where life had been cut short, it is restored. Where dreams had died, they are alive again.

Can you imagine the reaction of that dead person? Or the reaction of the family and friends who witnessed the spectacle? I imagine the celebration would last for a very long time! I imagine Jesus would have our attention … and our loyalty. Jesus could ask anything, and we’d give it. How could you not give your allegiance to the One who gave you such a gift?

“Unlikely!” we might say. That Jesus would come in and raise someone like that. Yet God has already done this for every one of us who is baptized into Christ. Not physically (yet). We do not see it with our eyes, but He has breathed new life into our dead spirits. We have been “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1). It is a miracle, no less spectacular than the raising of a dead person.

AND … get this: the Bible tells us that the spiritual resurrection is a down payment, a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come — the resurrection of the body, eternal life. “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). True, lasting life is ours in Jesus. Set your heart on Him. Become passionate about His kingdom, not the fleeting stuff of earth!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the miracle of my resurrection. Help me turn my full attention to You, for You are my life. Amen.


#uncommon

In View of God's Mercy

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices …  Romans 12:1
 

 

Don’t miss this!! Paul is about to say something extremely important. Romans 12, verses 1 and 2 are pivotal. My church in Appleton, WI is just beginning a 40-week spiritual journey, called "Uncommon," and verse 2 gives us the title for the first part of our journey: “Unconformed.” Do not miss Romans 12:1-2!

 

Most importantly, don’t miss the word “therefore.” I know, it doesn’t seem like a significant word. But it really is key. “Therefore” makes you ask: “What’s the ‘therefore’ there for?” And in this key verse it is there to indicate this: when Paul calls all Christians to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices,” we have to understand that that does not happen apart from everything Paul has just said in eleven preceding chapters of Romans! You can read the whole thing (especially Romans 3:23-24 and Romans 6:23!); but for the sake of brevity, just understand that it is all summed up in one critical phrase: “God’s mercy” (Romans 12:1).

 

“Mercy” is “not getting what we deserve.” If I get caught speeding yet the officer chooses to let me go with no consequence, that’s mercy. With God, we deserve death and eternal condemnation (Rom. 6:23). Yet God chose to release us from that fate by taking our punishment on Himself — making Jesus Christ a sacrifice in our place (Rom. 3:24-25).

 

Paul understood that if we are going to live an uncommon life, unconformed to the pattern of this world, that is only possible “in view of God’s mercy.” Here’s the point: it all starts with God. As in the beginning, when there was nothing and God created, nothing we do happens apart from God. (see John 15:5; 2 Cor. 5:14)

 

Here is the second critical piece: because God has given us life when we deserve death, we owe God everything we have. Paul says, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” That means going ‘all-in,’ holding nothing back. You can’t just give a little time or a little money or a little lip-service and call that good. Offer your “bodies,” he says — that means your whole self: your body, your thoughts, your passions, your present and future — everything! Let God use you for His purposes. Paul goes on to say: this is your worship. Not the songs you sing at church; giving your whole life for His work is your act of worship. Give it all to Him today!

 

Prayer: Father, I don’t deserve anything You give me. In view of Your mercy, lead me to give You all that I am, as an act of worship. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.  Romans 11:36

 

“Look at me!” my 3-year-old said as he spun around in circles in the backyard. His feat was so simple, kind of silly actually. But it was a big deal for such a little guy. And as every child seems to do, he insisted that everyone (all of our guests included) look to see what he had accomplished. He was determined to have every eye focused on him. “Look at me!”

 

It might be cute if this attention-seeking attitude only described toddlers. But we know that mind-set carries on throughout life. It seems we are forever battling the need to have others recognize us. In fact, today’s obsession with celebrity may even lead us to believe that you really are no one until everyone knows you. So we see people vying for attention by the most foolish and shocking means necessary.

 

Even apart from shock value, we might ask ourselves:  “When I work hard to build a business, complete a task with excellence, keep things in order, teach students who demonstrate success … [whatever it is we strive to do] … am I seeking my own glory, am I building my own reputation, am I most concerned about what others think or about what my efforts will get for me?

 

Today, my church is kicking off a 40-week series called Uncommon. We start with Romans 11:33-36 and hear Paul demonstrating a posture of the heart that characterizes people who are being “transformed by Christ” — their desire is not for glorifying themselves, but for ascribing glory to the One who is far more worthy. While people all over the world may seek to be recognized, getting others’ attention by their looks, by their successes, or by a silly video that goes viral … the person who is called by Christ lives in a way that is countercultural. We live to give glory to God, not ourselves.

 

Christians, for nearly two thousand years, have used a Latin phrase, Soli Deo Gloria (solo = alone/only; Deus = God; Gloria = glory) — “To God alone be the glory.” After all, as Paul said it:  “from HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things” (Rom. 11:36).

 

What about you? Are you doing the common thing of living for your glory? Or the uncommon thing of living for God’s glory?

 

 

Prayer: Lord, give me a spirit of selflessness. Remind me that all I have comes from You and that You alone deserve all the credit. When I experience success, help me say, Soli Deo Gloria! Amen.

 

#uncommon