Sober Judgment

Our sermon at church yesterday morning left me with food for thought. (Don't you love it when that happens?) The verse that has come back to mind several times since then is found in Romans 12:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Rom. 12:3).

This is a stark contrast to the way the world advises us to think of ourselves. Most of us fall into one of two camps (for me it depends on the situation) 1- thinking of myself as less than I am or 2- thinking more of myself than is true. Staying grounded in the center of those two extremes--with sober judgment--is very challenging.

As I was reading tonight, I came across this passage.

"In order to battle pride and to develop a correct view of ourselves, we must be able to, in a sense, step out of ourselves and view ourselves objectively. As Paul puts it: "Think of yourself with sober judgment". Now, it is difficult to think of ourselves "with sober judgment" unless the exhortation in Romans 12:2 has been followed. Paul, in Romans 12:2, exhorts us not to be conformed to the world. The way of the world is to exalt oneself. The way of the world is to say "I can do anything I want!". The way of the world is to strive to be number one. This is not the way of God. God has a method of service for you in accordance with His perfect plan for all. His method of service for you may be very visible, full of glory, impacting the lives of many; or it may be very humble, reaching only a few. He may have you serve Him in the grandest pulpit, or in the tiniest prayer closet. "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Rom. 9:21). Whatever the case may be, the important thing is to find the method of service God has chosen for you specifically. It is not the accolades of the world that count, but the approval of God."
From Scott Sperling's www.scripturestudies.com

My prayer tonight for myself and for the children I am tasked with raising is to ask God to form the view we are to have of ourselves--that my sober judgment may be in fact discernment from the spirit. Sometimes my call may be up front, other times it may be scrubbing floors back in the kitchen behind the scenes.

One thing I have learned in this life so far--better to be in the less glamorous position assigned by my Lord than in the limelight without Him.