Daily Thoughts from Romans: Your Spiritual Measure of Faith (12:3-8)

Daily Thoughts from Romans: Your Spiritual Measure of Faith

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. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 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.  (Romans 12:3-8 ESV)

Paul was given “the grace” of apostleship, his specific role to play in the church.  The apostle is the reliable representative of Jesus’ message who declares that message wherever he is sent by Christ and establishes churches with that message.  In this role Paul tells the Romans that they must each think soberly or correctly about their own roles in the church.  They are not to conceive of themselves as high above others but must see themselves as servants gifted with faith to serve in unique capacities granted by God.

In 1 Corinthians Paul calls these role abilities gifts.  Here he calls them measures of faith.  The former term speaks to how the abilities are expressions of the Holy Spirit Himself granted to the believer for use in the Body of Christ to help it mature and grow.  The latter term speaks to the trust in God that is required accept one’s gifting and role and exercise one’s gift.  And each person has their own unique gifting and measure of faith for the way they accomplish their role in the Body.  We therefore need each other’s unique giftings in order to make the Body function well.

As a living sacrifice I find that God has been equipping me to serve Him, His people and His world with the measure of faith He has assigned to me.  One person’s faith enables them to prophesy, another to serve others, another to teach, exhort, give, lead, show mercy and any other number of different needed functions.  Paul does not define what each of these functions is, assuming his readers know through experience what each gift accomplishes.

Do you know what measure of faith God has given you to serve His Body?  You could probably say whether you have a measure of faith for speaking (teaching, encouraging, counseling) or serving (giving, showing mercy, leading, etc.), though it is possible to have gifts in both areas.  You may have faith to be an up-front type of leader or a more behind the scenes type of leader.  What do others say of you?  How do they see your faith measuring up?  What are you drawn to?  These are all indicators of what measure of faith God has given to you for serving.

In his devotional book Daily Readings, W.E. Sangster relates the following story: Some years ago, in the midst of much toilsome work and not a few perplexities, I received a letter from a stranger. It was a lovely letter. It seemed to see right into my situation and, with almost uncanny discernment, to sense my need…Though the letter required no answer…(my correspondent explained that he did not wish to add to my work) I sent a word of the warmest gratitude, and some months later we met.  Let me tell you about this obscure disciple and something of his secret service for our Lord.  He is a shy man. It would be wrong to say that he has no gift in public speech, but he has a great gift in writing. Years ago he went to God for guidance, asking how best he could serve the coming of the Kingdom, and it was revealed to him that a ministry awaited him in correspondence… He accepted the commission.  For years he has been fulfilling it. He does it with prayer and (as he believes) under guidance. The number of people he has encouraged must, by now, be immense.  He writes to all kinds of folk, to friends, acquaintances, entire strangers, authors of books which have helped him, people in public life who are carrying great responsibilities, to the high and humble, known and unknown, rich and poor. He writes to sick people and speaks of his admiration for their courage. He lets the lonely know that he remembers them. He backs up those who are battling for social righteousness, especially when they are maligned. A letter of comfort from him has soothed a hundred broken hearts. He is a quietly happy man; happy with the happiness of those who found their work…and do it. He offers no advice in his letters and makes it plain that he expects no reply. He specializes in appreciation. There are enough critics, be believes, eager to tell a man where he is wrong.. So often has he been assured of the timeliness of his letters’ arrival that he cannot possibly doubt that he is working with Another.