READING: Psalms 61-66, Romans 11:33-12:21
Had you asked me thirty years ago if I were a selfish person, I suspect I would have said something like, “I don’t really think so. I like to give to others.” But . . . then I got married.
In marriage I learned just how incredibly selfish I can be. Not only did I learn how independent I had become (I was 30 when I married Pam), but I also realized that Pam showed me an unselfish, giving, sacrificial love that I hardly matched in turn. I had – and have, I’m sure – much room for growth.
In fact, what I’ve learned about myself in marriage has also forced me to evaluate my entire life in light of my selfishness. For that reason, these texts in today’s New Testament reading give me pause:
- “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Rom 12:3). God graciously gives each of us spiritual gifts to use for His glory, and each of us is to follow Him in faith—taking an honest look at ourselves and recognizing that each of us fits into the Body of Christ as God desires. He leaves us no room for bragging about our faith or our giftedness.
- “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Rom 12:10). We best show God’s love to others by treating them as family and by choosing to honor them above ourselves. We’re all bent toward wanting honor for ourselves, but the power of God in us changes us. Humility must reign as we put others first.
Yes, I still have much room to grow.
PRAYER: “Father, I pray that I will love and honor others today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 67-69, Romans 13:1-14:12
