ROMANS 12:3 (KJV)
3 FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN UNTO ME, TO EVERY MAN THAT IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK; BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, ACCORDING AS GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH.
THIS SCRIPTURE IS ONE OF MY MANY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE. IT IS HUMBLING AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY LIBERATING.
HUBBY AND I HAD A BRIDAL PARTY OF 24 NOT INCLUDING THE FLOWER GIRL AND RING BEARER. YES, I HAD 12 BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS AND HE HAD 12 HANDSOME GROOMSMEN. 11 OUT OF THE 12 BRIDESMAIDS IN THE BRIDAL PARTY WORE THE SAME TAILOR MADE DRESSES. MY SISTER WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A DIFFERENT DRESS MADE.
EVERYONE WHO WAS GOING TO BE A PART OF THE BRIDAL PARTY HAD TO GET MEASURED…..AND EVERYONE WAS FRAMED DIFFERENTLY. I RECALL GOING IN SEPARATE GROUPS TO MY SEAMSTRESS WHO WAS A DEAR FRIEND TO THE FAMILY. THE SEAMSTRESS TOOK HER TIME MEASURING EACH BRIDESMAID. EVERY TIME WE WENT BACK FOR A FITTING, A LITTLE MORE OF THE DRESS WAS MADE, BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO THROUGH A MEASURING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE DRESS FIT PERFECT FOR THEIR FRAME. THEY HAD TO KEEP GOING TO THE SEAMSTRESS UNTIL THE DRESS WAS COMPLETE AND READY TO WEAR ON MY WEDDING DAY. IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE DRESSES NOT TO ONLY BE COMPLETE BUT TO FIT EACH BRIDESMAID PROPERLY. ANYTHING TOO BIG AND TOO LONG WOULD NOT HAVE GONE OVER WELL. THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WALK CORRECTLY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER OF TRIPPING OVER THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY POINT TODAY. DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW YOUR MEASURE OF FAITH? IF YOU ARE A PART OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, YOU HAVE A MEASURE. HAVE YOU GONE TO GOD THE TAILOR AND ALLOWED HIM TO SHOW YOU YOUR MEASURE? OR ARE YOU TOO BUSY LOOKING AT SOMEONE ELSE’S MEASURE TRYING TO FIT THEIRS? GOD’S WORD SAYS LOOKING UNTO TO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND THE FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. WE HAVE NO BUSINESS LOOKING AT SOMEONE ELSE’S MEASURE TO FIT. THERE IS A MEASURE OF FAITH HE HAS GIVEN EACH OF US TO STEWARD WITH HUMILITY. HE DOES NOT WANT US TO OPERATE IN PRIDE WITH THE GIFTS HE HAS GIVEN US. THINKING TOO HIGHLY OF OURSELVES IS LIKE WEARING A DRESS OR A PAIR OF PANTS TOO BIG AND TOO LONG WHICH CAN BE A TRIPPING HAZARD. HE ALSO DOES NOT WANT US TO COVET (YEARN OR WISH) FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S GIFT NOR DOES HE WAS US TO COVET TO OPERATE (IF WE HAVE THE SAME GIFT) THE WAY SOMEONE ELSE OPERATES PLAYING THE COMPARISON GAME. CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET? IF YOU HAVE THE SAME GIFT SOMEONE ELSE HAS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE COMPARISON GAME. YOU CAN END THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OUR GOD IS TOO BIG. THERE IS ENOUGH FABRIC OF LIFE FOR EACH ONE OF US TO TOUCH. ALTHOUGH YOUR GIFTS IN SOME AREAS MAY BE THE SAME AS ANOTHER, LIKE MY 11 BRIDEMAIDS DRESSES WERE ALL THE SAME, THEY STILL WORE THE DRESSES DIFFERENTLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE….JUST AS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WITH THE MEASURE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT. HE CALLED US TO WORK OUR MEASURE. CAIN GOT IN TROUBLE NOT WORKING HIS MEASURE OF FAITH GOD HAD GIVEN HIM. HE HAD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GIFT THAN HIS BROTHER ABEL BUT HE HAD A DIFFERENT HEART ALSO THAT GOD DID NOT HONOR. LEAH STARTED OFF NOT WORKING HER MEASURE COMPARING HERSELF TO HER SISTER RACHAEL UNTIL SHE FINALLY REALIZED SHE NEEDED TO FIX HER SPIRITUAL EYES ON GOD AND PRAISE GOD AND BE GRATEFUL…..SARAH DID NOT WORK HER MEASURE OF FAITH EITHER SUGGESTING HER HUSBAND LAY WITH HAGAR CAUSING UNECESSARY FAMILY DRAMA. AS WE KNOW THE SON OF PROMISE DID EVENTUALLY COME THROUGH SARAH AND ABRAHAM. LUCIFER HAD ALL THE GIFTS IT SEEMED LIKE BUT HAD THE NERVE TO COMPARE HIMSELF TO GOD AND GOT IN TROUBLE WITH HIS MEASURE….AND SATAN STILL TO THIS DAY IS TRYING TO GET US DISTRACTED AND GET US NOT TO WORK OURS. NOT SO!
PLEASE REST ASSURE, OUR MEASURE IS A BIG DEAL TO GOD SO I ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO INSULT HIM WITH UNGRATEFULNESS, COMPARISON, AND IMPATIENCE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES IN THE WORD OF GOD CONCERNING THIS. I FURTHER ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO COMPARE YOU TO THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE.
GO AHEAD AND GET FREE TODAY. THANK YOU JESUS!
KEEP GOING BACK FOR YOUR FITTINGS BEFORE THE LORD GOD THE TAILOR AND ALLOW HIM TO KEEP CHECKING YOUR MEASURE SHOWING WHERE YOU ARE AND HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME. YOU ARE FURTHER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE. HE WHO HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK WILL COMPLETE IT UNTIL THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST….HIS WORD PROMISES. HE NEEDS AND WANTS TO WORK THROUGH US SO IT IS CRUCIAL WE STAY BEFORE HIM.
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. LAY ASIDE INSECURITY AND IMMATURITY. NO LONGER LOOK AT ANOTHER PERSON’S GIFTS (SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL) TRYING TO FIT THEIRS……INSTEAD BE ENCOURAGED TO WORK YOUR MEASURE.
PRAYER: GOD I ADORE YOUR GREAT NAME TODAY AND I HONOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR BLESSING ME WITH THE GIFTS (SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL) YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH. HELP ME TO STEWARD WELL WITH HUMILITY. GOD I KEEP MY EYES FIXED ON YOU. THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME BRINGS ME TO A HOPE AND A FUTURE. YOU ARE NOT A PARTIAL GOD AND WOULD NEVER PUT EXPECTATIONS ON ME IN COMPARISON TO ANYONE ELSE. I COME AGAINST THE ENEMY OF MY MIND AND I COME AGAINST MY FLESH WHO WANTS ME TO COMPARE. I WILL WORK THE MEASURE OF FAITH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME WITH NO RESERVATION. I DECLARE I AM RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF MY MIND. WHOM THAT SON HAS SET FREE IS FREE INDEED. TODAY I CHOOSE TO WALK IN FREEDOM!
SCRIPTURES:
1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
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