Accurate Assessment

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. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8 (NKJV)

The first instance of sin that is recorded in the Bible was the sin of pride. The Angel Lucifer looked at God and decided that he should fill that position. Talk about self-deception; that is the problem with pride, it makes an accurate assessment of ourselves impossible. Pride blinds people to reality and causes them to act in ways that can best be described as foolish. It was a ton of foolishness--a clear lack of wisdom--a huge dose of self-deception--and an out-of-control ego that sent Lucifer into a tail-spin of pride. Please remember this: Pride always makes us act in ways that are foolish.

When it comes to positions of spiritual authority and the exercise of spiritual gifts, we need to have an accurate assessment of who we are. What is the "measure of faith" that God has given us? What has God called and gifted us to do? In order to minister in the center of God's will and to our maximum potential we need to walk in a God-given actualization. (This is seeing ourselves accurately as God sees us)

We need God's accurate view of our gifts and calling so that we can avoid one of two extremes. That we avoid walking in pride; striving for a position of spiritual authority or a ministry that is outside of God's calling and grace. That we avoid walking in false humility; allowing the feelings of inadequacy to keep us from taking up the spiritual mantel that God has given us the grace to fulfill. How can we possibly strike the right balance between these extremes? The answer is going to sound familiar: Spend time with God. Submit to Him and then spend more time with God...

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, You gave Jesus a name above every name, because He humbled Himself and submitted Himself to You. I know that it is the example that I should follow, but, there is a lot of my ego that gets in the way. I do not want to be crushed into submission, but, I don't want to walk in self-deception either. Help me to see myself as I am and to walk in obedience to Your calling. Give me the fortitude to humble myself, before You have to intervene. Amen"