Read: Galatians 6:3-5

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.For each will have to bear his own load.

Reflect:

A few years ago I had outpatient surgery to correct myvision for reading and for distance, While my distance vision is still good, over the last year or so I’ve noticed that some more correction may be helpful for my reading. Once the doctor’s office is open again, I’ll check into what’s next.

That’s kind of how our vision diminishes over time, isn’t it? Hopefully we each can see a clearer picture of exactly who we are as followers of Jesus.

In the passage above Paul challenged the Galatians to avoid deceiving themselves, seeing them as something when he is nothing. And then, in Romans 12: 3, Paul challenges his readers-

“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” (Romans 12: 3).

What is meant by “sober” judgment?

Paul is telling us to be realistic about who we are in Christ. We are not to think to highly of ourselves. Chip Ingram put it this way – “when I think of myself too highly, it always leads to relational conflict and disunity.”

But neither are we to live in some sort of false humility. That’s the point of the positive command to “think with sober judgment.”

Respond:

Three questions can be answered when we take a good look in the mirror.

• Who am I or who has Christ made me to be?
• Where do I belong or what gifts and abilities do I have to benefit others.
• How am I supposed to act on those abilities?

Give it some thought today.