Romans 12-1 Correctly Viewing Oneself#
Romans 12-1 Correctly Viewing Oneself
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Life of the Eagle)
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for preparing such a wonderful time for us to listen to your words together. Through your words, let us correctly view ourselves, receive the strength that comes from you, and serve others with your power. Please grant us revelation so that we may understand your will and live out the truth with wisdom, building ourselves up and those around us. Through your words, let us know you more deeply, understand how to help others in life, and how to serve the church, so that we may become your beautiful witnesses. We completely dedicate this time to you, may the Holy Spirit anoint everyone, renew our thoughts and intentions, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!
The topic we are sharing is called Correctly Viewing Oneself.
Romans chapter 12, verses 3-8,
3 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Paul has a very accurate understanding of his position; he knows what kind of person he is and what his identity and mission are. Therefore, when witnessing for Christ in the world, no matter how great the difficulties he encounters, he looks to the Lord and does not lose heart. However, many people in the world do not see themselves clearly; some view themselves too highly, yet do not have such abilities, often experiencing failure. Others see themselves too lowly but are unwilling to accept it, often complaining about everything. The root of these problems lies in their inability to view themselves correctly. They do not know what they look like in God's eyes, nor do they understand their mission and value. May today’s sharing help us all to view ourselves correctly, serve the Lord in our positions, collaborate with others, and together fulfill the Great Commission.
The gifts that God gives to each person are different; some receive more gifts from God, while others receive relatively fewer. Paul says, "For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you..." Paul does not say, "I am going to teach you..." God has given Paul many gifts, such as the gift of teaching, healing, and speaking in tongues, but Paul does not boast about this, nor does he look down on others. Instead, he humbly encourages believers to act according to God's grace.
I say to everyone among you, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. This tells us that as Christians, we must first have a humble heart. We cannot think too highly of ourselves, which leads to pride, nor can we think too lowly of ourselves, which leads to inferiority. Today’s message will be shared from two aspects.
The first is to view oneself with sober judgment; the second is to correctly use the gifts that God has given us to serve the church.
No matter how many gifts you have, remember one thing: they are given to you by God. God gives you these gifts not to show off that you have more than others, but to use these gifts to help and build others up. Let these gifts fulfill their purpose and testify to the beauty of Christ.
Some people, after receiving the gift of tongues, go around saying, "I have this, and you do not." This is not something we should boast about. The gift God gives us is to establish a closer relationship with Him and to better serve others. We must view ourselves with sober judgment.
First, we must know that all gifts are given by the Holy Spirit. It is not because a person has performed well that God gives them gifts, nor is it because someone has believed for a certain period that God grants them gifts. How does this come about? If a person has a heart willing to seek, God will give to them.
Believers should not view themselves too highly: "I have the gift of healing, so I am more capable than other believers; I have believed for so many years, God must love me more; now that I am a pastor, I must know more than others." Sometimes, this is not necessarily the case. God can even use children!
But we should also not look down on ourselves. Many people often say, "I can't do it; I owe God too much; I can't do anything." When you say, "Sister, you sing very well; you can lead worship," she replies, "I can't; I am not worthy."
If excessive humility persists over time, one may truly feel incapable of doing anything, thus wasting these gifts and experiencing little of God's presence in life. Such a person may even doubt God's existence. Many experiences of God are revealed in serving.
So how should we view ourselves? We should view ourselves according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Do not think of yourself as better than others. All gifts are given by God; we only need to use what God has given us in service; we should not look down on ourselves too much, as it is God who lifts us up, and we can do things relying on the gifts God has given us.
If we view ourselves too highly, we will look down on others; if we view ourselves too lowly, we may not be able to stand up and serve God. Therefore, we need to maintain balance and view ourselves correctly, having a balanced assessment of ourselves and our abilities.
If a person understands that gifts are given by the Holy Spirit, then when that person serves the Lord, they will rely on the Lord's strength. In God's kingdom, each of us is valuable and very important. Everyone has gifts from God; we need to discover these gifts and participate in serving the church, so the church can be revitalized.
How can we view ourselves correctly in front of others? We must understand that God gives different gifts to each person according to their faith in Him. This way, we know we need to serve one another and collaborate to fulfill the Great Commission; one person cannot do everything.
Some may say, "I don't know what gifts God has given me." Let's simply say, where do you have faith in God? Where are you willing to help the church and benefit your family? That may be your gift. Of course, gifts need to be confirmed through service.
For example, some people have the gift of healing; in most cases (though not absolutely), they may have experienced a significant illness in the past, prayed to God in that area, relied on Him, and overcome it. Therefore, their faith in this area may be greater than others. God can use their faith to pray for others, and over time, this becomes their gift, and they are willing to pray for and comfort others. The gift becomes more evident. It is not that this person has worked hard to ask God for the gift of healing; rather, it is based on their understanding of God, and God gives different gifts according to the measure of faith assigned to each person.
Today’s scripture mentions the measure of faith and the degree of faith.
Verse 3 tells us about the measure of faith; verse 6 tells us about the degree of faith.
Faith is our complete acceptance of God in a certain area. Through faith, God enables believers to fulfill their mission in this world. Some receive the gift of healing, some the gift of encouragement, some the gift of teaching, and some have the ability to acquire wealth easily. However, all gifts are received from God. They are all given by the Holy Spirit.
What is the purpose of the gifts and talents God gives us? To serve one another and build up the world. We must correctly use the wisdom and abilities God has given you to testify to Christ.
But look at the people in the world; they do not know God. When they become successful, they start to become arrogant, forgetting who they are because they think their achievements are due to their own efforts. Often, proud people easily fall. But in reality, everything is given by God. Therefore, as Christians, we should view ourselves through Christ, and we will see ourselves more accurately.
1 Corinthians 4:7, "For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
Paul's point here is that everything we have is received from God, and moreover, what we have received is not all of God’s gifts; we have only received a small part. Therefore, we should not pretend that this is something we earned; we should treat what God has given us as receivers.
Ephesians 4:7, "But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."
Some people have a strong desire in certain areas and are willing to serve God in those areas, so God gives them the gifts they can currently bear to participate in His service. Others may not know themselves and wonder, "Why doesn't God make me a millionaire? If God gave me a few hundred million, I could glorify Him; I would definitely give and help more people." In fact, this is merely some people's selfish desires. If they cannot even give a tithe now, when they truly have a few hundred million, they would only become more stingy. Sometimes, God does not allow us to achieve certain things because we are not yet ready. If God gives it, it may harm us. God gives according to the measure of Christ's gift.
In other words, it is given according to the degree of faith you currently possess. Some may say, "That's not true; if God gave me a hundred million now, I would manage it well." That is not necessarily the case. Look at today’s society; many people become wealthy overnight, or win the lottery and get hundreds of millions. A few years later, their situation becomes worse than before. The reason is that they do not have the ability to manage wealth. Once they have a large sum of money, they do not know how to use it; they start to spend wildly and end up with nothing. This can harm them because they lack the ability to manage wealth.
Do not ask God, "Why don't you give me?" First, expand your horizons, be humble before God, and He will give you the most suitable gifts. If you cannot handle small matters, how can you manage great things?
Luke 16:10, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Only when a person correctly views themselves and starts serving the Lord faithfully in small matters can they naturally do well in other things.
Thus, the gifts God gives to each person are according to what we can currently bear. God gives every person gifts, so you need to discover your strengths and use that ability to serve God. For example, if you enjoy singing, then serve God in worship; isn't that great? If someone is good at painting, then they should glorify God in that area. In short, you must have one area where you excel (we will share below to help brothers and sisters discover what their gifts are).
Every believer receives gifts from God. If you are willing to ask, God is willing to give you. However, no one can monopolize all of God's gifts; they are distributed, and in God's eyes, everyone is equally important. Therefore, in God's kingdom, no one can be proud or look down on others; we are all the same, all receivers.
This passage tells us that just as we have many members in one body, and the members do not all have the same function. Believers are united as one; we are all just different members of the same body, just like hands and feet. The hand has no reason to look down on the foot, nor does the head have any reason to look down on the hand.
These two cannot be compared; no one can live independently. Therefore, in this passage, Paul gives us a very vivid metaphor and speaks very powerfully, saying, "Do not look down on your brother; looking down on him is looking down on yourself because he is also a part of the body of Christ."
All believers can be likened to one body, which has many members, but no two members have exactly the same function. No one has four feet or four hands; that would create problems. Believers are the same; although there are many believers, each has a unique role in Christ. Never look down on a small brother beside you. Everyone has God's gifts.
The union among believers is not just a group of people gathered together. It is one body composed of many members. Thank the Lord. We are united in Christ; we are born of one God, born of one Holy Spirit.
God places believers in this world and gives them different gifts according to the size of their faith so that they can collaborate and complete the Great Commission together, witnessing for Christ. Every believer is a part of the body of Christ, and the church is the body of Christ. Each person in our church is a member, and all churches around the world together form the body of Christ.
And the church has only one head, which is Jesus Christ. Every person in the church is particularly important. If every member does not play their role, then the head loses its function. If the head tells the feet to go to church and they do not move, it indicates a problem in the body! The head of the church is Jesus Christ, and the work must be done by the members. The head cannot act alone; it needs the members to cooperate. Therefore, for us Christians, having received the gospel, each person needs the cooperation of other members to let people know this God.
Believers should correctly assess themselves, view themselves correctly, know who they are, and understand what gifts God has given them. They should measure themselves according to the faith God has given them, viewing themselves without overestimating or underestimating themselves. In this way, the abilities and strengths that God has given us can function in this world.
I once knew a brother who had a great gift for preaching and could also encourage others, but he particularly wanted to sing and was obsessed with singing, unfortunately, he was tone-deaf. The brothers and sisters said, "Since you love singing so much, come and worship with us!" Everyone should not discourage him; let him try. This brother was very dedicated; he participated in every training session and practiced every day at home, but he never improved. When the formal worship began, he loved to take the microphone, and as soon as others started, he would "scream," causing everyone to forget how to sing.
After a few times, he realized he was not good at this and said, "I better not participate; not only can I not worship God, but I also affect others from worshiping." He decided to pursue preaching instead! When he preached, he could analyze the word very clearly. From that time on, he no longer participated in worship service because that was not his gift.
What I mean to say is this: view yourself correctly. If the gift God has given you is to worship, then devote yourself to worship; if God has given you the gift of prayer, then serve God well in prayer. Do not covet the preaching or the elegance of the pianist! Nor should you look down on those who clean; they are just serving in different positions. The rewards, however, are the same.
Thank the Lord. Only when we correctly and honestly serve according to our faith and use the abilities God has given us can these members work together. If the foot says to the hand, "Why is it always me walking? Let's switch; let the hand walk and see what happens?"
If one member tries to replace another, problems will arise; it indicates a problem in the body. If a person can only eat with their feet, it shows that a certain member of their body has a problem. What does this mean? It means to see where God has given you gifts and to function in that area, collaborating with others. Remember, no one is absolutely omnipotent. When everyone works according to the gifts God has given us and collaborates, the body becomes a healthy body and can demonstrate the immense power of Jesus. Thank the Lord!
Verse 5, "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
Whether you are serving in the church or working in the world, you must recognize your current identity and understand what position God has given you, using the gifts God has given you while also acknowledging that others are indispensable. In this way, we can accept others.
Verse 6, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;"
Gifts differ among people. For example, one person may be very good at worship, but may not excel in other areas. Sometimes they may not be very good with words. You cannot say, "You are still a worship leader; why do you read the Bible so little?"
Do not pick on their faults; just look at their strengths in worship. They are not omnipotent; they can excel in one area and should use that strength. Because the gifts God gives us are different, you should only focus on their strengths and not pick on their weaknesses.
Jesus also knows that we have shortcomings. But if we concentrate all our strengths, talents, and advantages, we can accomplish things that one person cannot achieve. We must correctly use the spiritual gifts God has given us and unite with them.
Now let's look at what these spiritual gifts are.
Gifts are special abilities given to believers by God. Gifts come from God; no matter how many gifts there are, they are all given by the Holy Spirit. The purpose of God giving us these gifts is to enable us to fulfill the mission entrusted to each person—the gospel to the ends of the earth.
According to the grace given to us, we each have different gifts. This is the translation of verse 6 in the New Version. You must know that the purpose of the gifts God gives you is to involve people in service and fulfill His mission. This is meaningful and valuable, and it is certainly not for people to show off or think highly of themselves.
Let’s take a look at these gifts, the first being the gift of prophecy.
The second half of verse 6 says, "If prophecy, in proportion to our faith."
What is prophecy? Many people may think that prophesying is merely speaking about future events. Such an understanding is too narrow. Most prophecies in the Old Testament ultimately point to Jesus Christ, and some point to events that will happen to Israel in the future. However, most prophecies refer to Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, prophecy mainly involves preaching.
1 Corinthians 14:3, "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation."
The purpose of prophesying now is to teach, admonish, and comfort people. It is to clarify the truth so that people can benefit. Many people do not know Jesus Christ; you clarify these matters through preaching. Some extreme sects tell you that everyone can prophesy, resulting in training the entire church, from old to young. When you go, they start giving you prophecies about what will happen in ten years...
They have a hundred people, and all a hundred can prophesy; a thousand people, and all a thousand can prophesy, and each person can say something different to you. When encountering such situations, everyone can discern and receive accordingly, but do not believe blindly.
Prophets in the Old Testament proclaimed and explained God's word, and these matters were eventually recorded, which is what we read in the Bible today. When prophesying, one should do so according to the measure of faith; do not speak randomly, do not say, "It will snow tomorrow!" That is a weather forecast; do not confuse prophesying with fortune-telling.
Sometimes, the Spirit of God indeed moves some people to tell them what will happen in the future, but the purpose of telling them is still to encourage them to rely on God, comfort people, and build them up. If every time something happens, you go to a certain prophet and say, "Pray for me; see what God can tell you," that in itself is problematic. It easily shifts all your focus onto that person. If that prophet has selfish desires, wouldn't people be deceived? For example, some false prophets take this opportunity to gain followers and donations, which can cause some people to stumble.
If you are experiencing this issue now, return to God, return to the Bible, focus your time and energy on God's word, pray more, and you can also pray with brothers and sisters. In this way, God can also tell you the answers. Focusing on a certain person is a very dangerous thing.
Second, if serving, in our serving (Romans 12:7).
A deacon is a position in the church. The original meaning of deacon is helper, assistant, preparer, or server. Many things in the church are executed directly by deacons. But deacons must understand their position; they should not dominate the pastor but assist the pastor in their work.
The terms deacon and servant are very similar; they are akin to servants in the Old Testament. You do what the master tells you to do, submitting to one another as you submit to the Lord. They serve in practical ways, helping the pastor build the church. Deacons play a very important role in the church.
To serve diligently means to do your part well and to do things that build up the church. Do not overstep your authority. Many deacons in churches do not understand their roles; some even try to dictate to the pastor what content must be preached. They may even create conflicts, causing many brothers and sisters to no longer be harmonious. This is neglecting their duty and is displeasing to God.
Third, if teaching, in teaching.
The gift of teaching refers to the ability to teach the truths of the Bible, helping people to be rooted in the truth. God's word not only needs prophets to proclaim it but also needs those with the gift of teaching to instruct. When teaching, one must not speak carelessly or interpret the Bible according to personal opinions but should teach according to biblical principles.
Some people say that many claim to teach according to the Bible, but we cannot discern. A very simple, unchanging principle is that whoever interprets the Bible must not contradict themselves; from Genesis to Revelation, they cannot negate each other. Therefore, teaching is not something everyone can do; it is a responsibility for life. Misleading teaching can lead people to error and cause harm. Teaching must not take a single verse and interpret it arbitrarily. Instead, it should dissect God's word according to the truth.
The Bible mentions a position called teacher, which is one of the five-fold ministries. We emphasize that positions do not differ in importance; they simply serve different functions. Many people think that the pastor's position is higher than that of a teacher. In fact, they are the same; the areas of service differ. God requires more from those who teach because teaching primarily involves using the Bible, thus requiring a high standard of knowledge of the Bible. God needs those with a certain foundation; not everyone can teach the truth. Misinterpreting the Bible is very dangerous and can easily lead people into failure.
As a preacher, if you believe incorrectly, and you receive incorrectly, everyone who listens to you will be wrong. Therefore, we must not only be responsible for our own lives but also for those who listen to us. The kind of message you hear from the pulpit will shape your life. How many people today are still under the law, believing that suffering and illness are given by God to refine our hearts...
Because they receive such messages, when they encounter illness, they will complain, "Lord, I really cannot thank you; you said to thank you in everything, but I really cannot!" However, the pastor says, "No, everything has God's good purpose; thank God for your illness!" Is the person who says this certain that it is true? Can the one who says this continue to thank God when they are ill?
The position of teacher is particularly important; teaching people to live in a way that glorifies the Lord. Just as Jesus Christ taught people, we should also teach others in the same way. Jesus Christ gives freedom and release; what we teach should also be like this. Therefore, the church needs correct teaching, which brings faith and changes lives.
Fourth, if exhorting, in exhortation.
Exhortation, in the original language, means encouragement, comfort, inspiration, and invitation. Those with this gift may not preach on stage but can sit down and discuss the truth with brothers and sisters, sharing much about Jesus. This is the gift of exhortation; their words can encourage, comfort, and benefit others.
The characteristic of this gift is that it can awaken people's hearts, reignite their faith, and turn them back to Jesus Christ. Encouragement, comfort, and support help the weak to re-establish a good relationship with God.
Likewise, those who exhort must focus on exhortation. Do not expect others to serve like you do, nor look down on others' service. Each person's gift is different, and their methods of serving will also vary slightly.
We must view ourselves with sober judgment. Therefore, brothers and sisters should focus on serving, clearly recognizing which gift God has given you. Serve diligently in your position, collaborating with others. This will produce good results. Others will see God's love and the glory of Christ in this church.
Fifth, the one who contributes should do so with generosity.
In the original language, this means to give. I also hope that brothers and sisters can remember this passage and replace the word "contribute" with "give." What we can give to others is not because we are better than them, but because God has given us, and we are willing to share God's blessings with others, just as God said to Abraham, "I will bless you, and you will become a great nation; I will bless you, and you will also bless others."
Giving is also a gift. Many people have an incorrect understanding of the term "giving." When it comes to giving, people often think of those in high positions or wealthy individuals giving to the poor, as if they are pitying others by giving them something unimportant. But in Christ, this is not how we understand it. Those with the gift of giving do not look down on others; instead, they see giving as an opportunity, a chance God gives them to help others.
Many people know that all our blessings come from God, but when it comes to giving, not everyone can do it. Therefore, this requires us to have spiritual insight and faith. For example, giving money, clothes, or food freely to others—how many people can do this? Unless they see God's blessings in the spiritual realm.
God indeed gives some people a lot of wealth, and there is a great mystery in this: they are givers. They can freely distribute what God has given them to many people. In this way, God continuously adds to them. Just like God blessed Abraham, who was willing to welcome those who came from afar and was generous. Many people want to receive blessings like Abraham but are unwilling to become givers like Abraham; this is quite strange.
Often, when we pray, God does not respond because we need to adjust our inner thoughts in this regard. Many people always say, "Give me, give me!" expecting others to give to them, but they are never willing to give. If a person is willing to be a channel of blessing, God is willing to give to you. The more you give, the more God will give you; God does not want us to become greedy.
The one who contributes should do so with sincerity. Brothers and sisters, this tells us that when you give to others, you must be sincere. A sincere person, in the original sense, is simple, upright, frank, unpretentious, and generous.
Do not learn from the world; when they donate money to others, they must have their names and photos on the front page of the newspaper, showing how much they donated. They may do this for their own reputation, but as children of God, we should not do this. The world does that, and they have already received their reward. God wants us to give to others without selfish motives.
How should Christians think when giving to others? Everything is given to me by God, so I am willing to give. Whether helping those in need or supporting gospel work, it should be done willingly, as this is done before God, not for the praise of men. With this heart, you can become a giver, and this blessing is great.
God gives some people the gift of making money; some are particularly clever in business. Jews do this very well! Most Jews, after making money, give a tithe to God, give back to society, and help the poor; they do this very well and are worth learning from.
In this area, many people find it very difficult to do. If our current salary is one thousand yuan, giving one hundred yuan to the church or supporting gospel work seems acceptable. But if you earn one million or even ten million a month, when asked to give one-tenth, you find it difficult. Even if some people give, they still worry about where the money is used. If a person has such a heart, how can God give you more?
I wish all family members, especially those who want breakthroughs in their finances, to first become givers, to first have such a heart, and to let God give you such a heart. Thank the Lord! To be able to help others in financial and material ways without expecting anything in return. Do not say that after you give to others, you must make them thank you; you should know that you are giving to God, and that is enough.
In this way, these finances can help the church grow and support the work of evangelism. Just like our current evangelism work, it also needs financial support. Without finances, we cannot sit down and preach to you. Take full-time servants as an example; if their livelihoods are not guaranteed, they cannot serve the church wholeheartedly. They may have to work overtime like others and cannot focus on teaching. This requires us to continuously collaborate as members, which will help us build God's work together and share in eternal rewards in heaven!
Matthew 6:3, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
Many people always add a condition after donating money to the church: "I donated this much money to the church; I tell you, this money must be used for this and that." In fact, this person has overstepped their bounds. Once you donate money to the church, it becomes God's; how to use this money is the responsibility of the church's pastor or serving personnel. You have already done what you should do. God will remember your contribution!
Sixth, the gift of leadership.
The one who leads should do so with diligence. Here, "the one who leads" refers to leaders, those in authority, and managers in the church. Church leaders should possess the gift of management; if they do not have the gift of management, they will create chaos in the church. This requires wisdom from God.
A manager should have a long-term vision; their perspective should not be too narrow. They should consider the church's development and personnel management from a holistic perspective, not just focusing on immediate gains and losses. Problems should be corrected promptly to avoid greater losses for the church. When managing, they should establish church management systems, treating everyone equally. Any fellowship without rules will run into trouble. Therefore, those who govern need to have a just heart, impartial and fair. Only then can the church grow healthily.
At the same time, those who govern are also serving before God. When managing the church, they must not be lazy, negligent, or proud. Serving in the church is not about holding power but about being a servant like Jesus, serving everyone and being an example for the sheep.
The one who leads should do so with diligence. Those who govern cannot be like the Pharisees, making others do all the work while refusing to lift a finger. Such people will face trouble!
1 Timothy 4:14-16
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Paul encourages Timothy to serve diligently, focusing on his work and being an example to everyone. Therefore, serving in the church is not about using power to make people submit but about leading everyone with love. This is how to build a family of love. Those who serve cannot rely on temporary enthusiasm but must have a heart of enduring patience. Only those who do so can become church leaders.
In 1 Peter 5:2-3,
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly; as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Church leaders have great responsibilities, and their motives must be pure, aimed at benefiting the church, and they should willingly do their work. Those with selfish motives must not become leaders. Because God has entrusted this flock to you, if a person does not understand their responsibilities, is passive, lazy, and selfish, they not only harm themselves but also cause many to stumble. Such people will face trouble before God! There is no distinction of high or low in gifts; each is particularly important.
Seventh, the one who shows mercy should do so cheerfully.
"Showing mercy" refers to caring for the sick, the poor, the elderly, orphans, and widows.
When showing mercy, it should not be done with a condescending heart; the recipient should not feel inferior. Instead, it should be done with genuine love to help those in need. For example, when someone falls, if you have a heart of mercy, you think about the problem from their perspective. Those without a heart of mercy easily take the position of a judge, condemning and criticizing others!
Those who have a heart of mercy see things differently from others. When Jesus served on earth, He saw the people of Israel as sheep without a shepherd, and so He had compassion on them. But the Pharisees saw these people as rebellious! This shows the difference in people's hearts!
1 Timothy 1:12-14
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul could have such a heart of mercy because he received such mercy from God. He had previously blasphemed God, persecuted believers, and was proud. But God had mercy on him, accepted him, and used him. Paul understood Jesus' heart and realized how abundant God's grace is. Therefore, he could have the same compassion for others as Christ. This compassion produced faith and love. If a person understands Jesus' mercy, they can love and understand others in the same way!
Today, I have shared several gifts with brothers and sisters. I hope each person will pray before God to discover what our gifts are. There is no distinction of high or low in gifts; do not look down on others' gifts, nor think too highly of your own. We are all working together, receiving from God, and serving the Lord together.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for your grace, for giving us such truth, for having mercy on us, and for allowing us to serve with your love. This is an incredibly good thing. Holy Spirit, please guide us on the path ahead, so that we do not rely on our own will in serving but depend on God's wisdom to do things, bringing the gospel of Christ to more people. Together, let us build the body of Christ.
May every brother and sister discover their gifts and actively participate, becoming a servant and sharing in the heavenly rewards! All glory be to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!