1 Corinthians 6:1-11

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

-1 Corinthians 6:1-11

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The Corinthians struggled with many different social issues, and in this case, dealing with conflicts between each other and how to settle them. It appears that they turned to worldly ways of settling conflicts and lawsuits, going to judges and courts that were not necessarily related to God's ways.

Today, we see people constantly turning to secular ways when dealing with conflict. Whether it is taking legal action, going behind people's back, or even physical harm, we humans naturally look for ways to get what we want or to seek what we think to be justice. Furthermore, when in conflict, we often try to find ways to free ourselves from fault or blame, trying to push it onto someone else or to settle the matter by creating a "lawsuit".

Paul sees the Corinthians struggles with this matter, and asks in verse 7 "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" They had resorted to cheating and doing wrong to try to seek their version of justice, even to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! But Paul reminds us of the bigger picture and the dangers of falling into sin, but also reminds us and the Corinthians that this lifestyle should be something of the past as Jesus has already provided justice and freed us from sin.

It's so easy to turn to our own ways to deal with conflicts that it can prevent us from remembering our identity in Christ. The world has many "solutions" to our issues that may seem great, but God reminds us that His ways are always best. We can look to Jesus's characteristics and practice humility and love to settle issues, rather than only doing more harm to others and to ourselves. This will not only help us get through our conflicts, but will also help unbelievers and those around us see Christ alive and working in us through the way we respond.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

-1 Corinthians 2:1-16

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This passage highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in our salvation and our transformation.  The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity.  In Christianity, we believe that God is one god but three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  They are all God but they are three separate persons.  I know, it’s confusing and a wonderful mystery.  We’ll talk about how beautiful the Trinity actually is at a later devotional.

But just know now that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity.  And His job is to change our hearts.  This passage reminds us that our desire to seek God and to accept His salvation requires the help of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us that desire and that yearning for God.  Without the Holy Spirit, we would run away from God.

Knowing this should produce humility, gratitude, and grace within us.  It produces humility because we know that our desire for Jesus didn’t even come from ourselves but from the Holy Spirit.  It produces gratitude because we’re so happy and grateful that the Holy Spirit moved in our hearts so that we can know God.  And lastly, it produces grace because it helps us to show mercy and grace toward those who don’t know God because we know we are no different from them were it not for the help of the Holy Spirit.

Does your faith embodies humility, gratitude, and grace?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[c]

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d]

-1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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Recently, a few of my friends were discussing their interactions with one of their classmates.  This classmate was virulently anti-religious, particularly toward Christianity.  Hypocrisy, the foolishness of faith, etc. were all the reasons brought up in their discussions.

I want to be careful because I don't want to be dismissive of criticisms of Christianity, particularly of us, the followers.  It's true we struggle with hypocrisy—every Christian does, but so does every human being who's a sinner.  And it's true, there are times when we attribute things to "just faith" when God requires us to use our brains.  He did create reason and logic.  They're not antithetical to Christian faith.  In fact, some of the smartest people in the world have used reason and logic to argue for Christianity.

But this passage does tell us that we can only find God in humility.  Only when we admit that our reason and logic can go so far, can we begin to open the doors for the possibility of a relational God.

Likewise, when we share the truth of God, we ought to do so in humility as well.  We didn't come to know God because we are smarter or wiser than others, but simply by God's grace and mercy.  That's it.  There is no boasting in the Christian faith.  Only gratitude.

Are you approaching your friends who are curious about Christianity or even fight against Christianity with humility?

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

- 1Cor1:1-9

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Today we start the book of corinthians. To give a little background as we start to dig into Corinthians, Paul is addressing a group of people in Corinth who have accepted the good news of Christ and are now trying to understand what it means to be Christians. This book provides us a bit more insight on what early Christians were like then and Paul addresses their strengths and weaknesses as we read through his letters to the Corinthians. 

 

He starts his letter with thanksgiving to our God for the faithful people in Corinth. It is clear in Paul’s greeting that the people he’s addressing have already accepted Christ and he is thanking God for the grace he has given them through Christ. In this opening statement, we can already see many fundamental truths about being a follower of Christ. Paul mentions that their faithfulness has shown that Christ is among them. He also tells us that God gives us strength in our faith and that He is faithful and calls us to be in fellowship with his son Jesus Christ. 

 

I think even from the very beginning of Paul’s letter he’s already giving us the basics of what it means to be a Christian. He makes it clear that God has already provided us everything that we need and that we don’t need to earn his love and grace because he has already freely given it to us. We just have to fully surrender ourselves to Jesus and be in fellowship with him. 

Romans 15:22-33

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

-Romans 15:22-33

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Do you have any friends or family who live far away? Maybe relatives who live overseas, friends you met at summer camp, or people you know that have moved away. If you are close to those people, I'm sure you've felt a longing to see them again, hoping to once again experience those relationships or community you had with those people.

We read in this passage that Paul had been longing to see his friends in Rome, and he is now planning to visit them. However, it appears that although he would be able to visit, his final destination is still elsewhere, in this case in Spain. Furthermore, Paul also has a task to do in Jerusalem which he would need to address first before venturing to Rome and Spain.

Having our own agendas and desires to go places or see people are great and help us plan our futures. We as human being will always have longings to see friends and family, especially if they are far away and we haven't seen them in a while. However, we learn from Paul that although he yearns to see his fellow Romans, he still understands his priority and calling to do what God has called him to do, which would be to address the matters in Jerusalem and continue his ministry into Spain. 

This didn't mean Paul would be unable to connect with his friends though. Not only was he going to find time to still visit, but we see that Paul urges them to connect with him by praying for him, praying for his journey before reconnecting in person. Paul reminds us of the importance of being spiritually connected with our friends and family, especially when we are unable to be physically connected. Often times you may see or hear missionaries or church groups asking for prayers when they set off on a trip. This may be the most important thing christians can ask for when we become distant with others. However far we may venture, we can still always be joined together through our prayers and fellowship with God.

Romans 15:14-21

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,

“Those who have never been told of him will see,
    and those who have never heard will understand.”

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Paul has stated again and again that he is a minister to the Gentiles and not just to the Jews. In this passage he spends more time describing in detail on the how. Today we're going to break things down verse by verse because the way that Paul describes his ministry to Gentiles is something we can model in our ministry anywhere. 

In verses 15-16 Paul talks about how his goal is to minister to the Gentiles so that they themselves may present worthy sacrifices. In Young Life we try to accomplish the same to the ones we minister to. We want to equip them to so they themselves have a relationship with God. 

Verse 17 Paul vocalizes the proper pride that all ministers of the faith should have. In ministry one can often be in a position of authority and it is an easy temptation to let the power you have lead to pride. Although pride in this regard is wrong and damaging, it doesn't mean we shouldn't have pride at all, it just needs to be put in the right place. Christ Jesus, Paul states, is our reason to be proud. As ministers, there are times where it can be tiring, but lift your head up! Be proud of the God we serve and on whose behalf we present this Gospel. Yes it can be tiring work but it is work that we should be proud of because it is work done for God. 

In ministry there's also the temptation to mix in our own or outside thoughts into the Gospel when we present it to others. Although contextualizing and presenting the Gospel in our voice in a way others can understand is important, we have to be cautious because of the danger of diluting or even corrupting the Gospel presentation. Paul in verse 18-19 says simply that he presents nothing more than what Christ has presented to him. 

Finally in ministry you unfortunately too often see churches or fellowships stepping on each others toes, fighting for the same group of people or stealing members from others. Paul says in the last 2 verses and even quotes scripture that we actively tries to preach where others haven't so avoid this conflict. 

In these few verses, Paul just states some seemingly simple steps he takes in his ministry. Unfortunately as simple as it all seems, these truths are some of the most commonly forgotten and lead to some of the most common pitfalls in ministry. While these are not explicit warnings, we need to pray that we can emulate Paul's ministry to the Gentiles as we minister to whomever God has called us to minister to and never forget these truths.  

Romans 14:1-23

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bow before me;

every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

-Romans 14:1-23

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During this time period Christians were arguing whether or not they should be allowed to eat meat that was used in non-Christian religious ceremonies.  So if food was used for like a Buddhist ritual or a Hindu ritual, are we as Christians allowed to still eat it?

Some Christians say food is food, who cares what it was used for earlier.  It seems like this was the perspective the Apostle Paul took.  But other Christians were bothered by this saying we shouldn’t eat food that was used in these other religious rituals.  It’s unclear their reasons, but maybe they believed it was wrong because eating food from non-Christian rituals made it seem like they supported these rituals.

Whatever the case may be, Paul is saying that it’s possible for some issues to have both sides be right.  It’s right for those who just see food as food, and it’s right for those who want to be careful not to ruin their witness to outsiders by doing something confusing like eating food from non-Christian rituals.

The point is, in a case where both people are trying to honor God, there needs to be grace show on both sides.  We live in a day in age where petty disagreements are splitting up too many churches.  This is why the Apostle Paul says that “we are to make every effort to do what leads to peace” with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As you grow in your faith, you should grow in strength in your understanding of God.  You will have strong opinions.  Remember to temper them with grace.  Strive to make every effort to live in peace.

Romans 13:11-14

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

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The Time is Coming... Get Ready!

Christians believe the world is going to end one day. Jesus makes it very clear in His teachings. He also says He will return at the end of time and that all of us need to "get ready." Paul is giving a similar warning here. But what does it mean to "get ready"?

Paul makes it very clear... we should behave decently, and he says we must not engage in carousing or getting drunk. I had to look up the word carousing, and the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "to drink liquor freely or excessively." So, this is an example of something we should NOT be doing if we want to get ready for the return of Jesus. He also says we should not engage in sexual immorality and debauchery. I had to look up debauchery too, and Merriam-Webster defines it as "extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures: behavior involving sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. that is often considered immoral." Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Paul also says we should not engage in dissension and jealousy. I know jealousy is selfishly desiring what other people have, but I wasn't too sure about dissension; here's what Merriam-Webster said: "partisan and contentious quarreling."

So let's put it all together... We should live decent lives that are free of a love for alcohol and sexual immorality and in which we strive to live peacefully and lovingly with others. Paul says Jesus is basically expecting this of us and that these are signs that should define our faith and life in Jesus. In Paul's eloquent words, we should "put on the armor of light" and avoid gratifying "the desires of the flesh."

Today is a good day to reflect on how we're doing and to ask oursleves, "Are we ready?" If not, do something today to "get ready" for Jesus' return.

- Brian Hall

Romans 13:8-10

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

-Romans 13:8-10

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This passage touches upon two points—your finances and your relationships.  The financial advice here is to have no debt.  We live in a consumer culture where easy credit can plunge people into unending chronic debt.  Americans today owe over $930 billion dollars to credit card companies.  That’s a lot of money.

I was always taught by my parents, and now Scripture, that you should never buy anything you can’t afford at the moment.  If you don’t have the money for it, don’t buy it.  Pretty simple rule.

Of course, financial debt is not the focus of this passage but an example to be used for something even more important—our relationships with others.  The Apostle Paul is asking us to live as if we owed others our money, our time, and our very lives.  Paul encourages to live as if our relational debt to people can never be paid—we should always be serving them and always giving to them.  This is pretty radical thinking.

I like to live my own life thinking I don’t owe anybody anything.  But that’s not what the Bible tells us.  It says we have a debt to God that can never be repaid.  I owe God and He doesn’t even want me to pay Him back because He knows I can’t.  That kind of radical grace and love should compel me to show radical grace and love to others.

Are you living your life loving people and seeing others?

Romans 13:1-7

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

-Romans 13:1-7

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How do we read this verse that basically tells us to obey the government in light of all the protests that are happening across the nation?

In every government there are laws created to ensure the safety and the well-being of its citizens.  Laws against theft and murder are generally helpful in a society.  This passage is telling us that we need to play our role in helping the government serve its citizens because the establishment of government is one of the ways God protects us and helps us.

However, almost all Bible commentators agree that this is not a blank check for the government to do whatever it wants and that even the government is not above God’s laws and desires.  The government are made of people who are all sinners.  When the government oversteps its bounds and break God’s decrees, the Christian may find it difficult to continue to obey the government.

One Christian commentator give the example of Peter in Acts 4 refusing to obey the Jewish leaders telling him to stop preaching the Gospel.  Peter refuses knowing that the will of God in this case supersedes the government.

How do we know when to obey and when to practice civil disobedience?  An intimate relationship with Jesus and a healthy knowledge of Scripture is required.  Not all obedience are equal.  Not all protests are the same.  Only when we understand the heart of God are able to rightly make nuanced decisions about our role in government and our society.

Romans 12:9-21

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Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere.v Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.w 10 Be devoted to one another in love.x Honor one another above yourselves.y 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,z serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,a patient in affliction,b faithful in prayer.c 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.d Practice hospitality.e
14 Bless those who persecute you;f bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.g 16 Live in harmony with one another.h Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.c Do not be conceited.i
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.j Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.k 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.l 19 Do not take revenge,m my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”d n says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: 
               “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; 
                if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 
                In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”e o
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:3-8

3 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 faith God has distributed to each of you.4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body,and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

- Romans 12: 3-8

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Each of us has certain things that we are good at and proud of. Sometimes we even think that we are better than someone else because we can do something that others don’t. If that’s the case, the very first verse of today’s passage already hits. “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought.” I think it’s a very humbling calling that each of us have. God calls us to be humble in everything that we do. But this does not mean that we should disregard our capabilities and think that we are not good enough. That is not true at all. But rather, instead of putting our focus on ourselves and what we can do, we should put our faith in God and use our  gifts to bring glory to God who gave us our gifts. 

Each of us have different gifts that God gave us. But it does not mean that one is better than another. We should embrace what gave gave us and calls us to do and use it willingly with an open heart as God intended it to be. All of our gifts are good and works together as part of one body and when we center Christ in all that we do and joyfully follows him, we are able to glorify Him.