This morning three of us were working through the summary portion of our study on 1 Peter. When he was finished sharing what he had gotten out of the Word one of the men sort of apologized for what he had shared, with the idea that it was really not all that profound. Not that profundity is a hallmark of our studies anyway…
I told him to get his toe out of the sand and the other guy on the call told our friend that he always benefited from what anyone who was attempting to learn more of Christ saw in the Word. He is right.
We are supposed to be humble. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Romans 12:3 tells us that in no uncertain terms. But that is just the first half of the verse. The second half tells us that we are to think as to have sound judgment. Paul substantiates that exhortation with the data that God has allotted to us each a measure of faith. Peter picks this up in 1 Peter 4:10 – 11. He tells us we are to use our gifts that God supplies.
We have been given gifts by God for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. Last time I checked God does not make errors. He gives us gifts and insights into His Word that we are expected to share. If we do not we rob the other members of the Body.
Both of us this morning benefited greatly from what our friend shared. He had no reason to apologize, rather he should give thanks with us for what God has done in his life.
We are supposed to be humble. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Romans 12:3 tells us that in no uncertain terms. But that is just the first half of the verse. The second half tells us that we are to think as to have sound judgment. Paul substantiates that exhortation with the data that God has allotted to us each a measure of faith. Peter picks this up in 1 Peter 4:10 – 11. He tells us we are to use our gifts that God supplies.
We have been given gifts by God for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. Last time I checked God does not make errors. He gives us gifts and insights into His Word that we are expected to share. If we do not we rob the other members of the Body.
Both of us this morning benefited greatly from what our friend shared. He had no reason to apologize, rather he should give thanks with us for what God has done in his life.
Good word of encouragement! An occasional mentor whom I never even met but who had an impact on my life once shared Prov.27:7 "One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet." v.6 adds a punch to the first phrase, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." A simple paraphrase is, "If you can't eagerly receive a rebuke of a friend you won't get anything from the Word of God." This has always said to me that if I hear truth shared by someone, no matter how hard or how basic it may be, the problem isn't with the truth; it's with my heart.
ReplyDeleteA hard truth for me when I "don't get anything" out of what is shared with me in any arena.
Proverbs 27:6-7
Good word, thanks.
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