Dedication Towards One Another - Romans 12:3-8

As important it is to remember that we are to be dedicated to God, it is equally important that have a godly dedication towards one another.

Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Having a godly dedication towards one another begins by not thinking highly of yourself than you ought to, as if you are you are more spiritual than the next person. Paul is warning believers not to be egotistical. Or as one writer put it not to become a egoholic. Prideful thinking will result in prideful actions. The opposite of that is Humble thinking will result in humble actions. As a believer we must take on the spirit of Jesus Christ who was humble. I read one commentator who open my eyes to what this verse is also saying that I hadn’t considered. And that is Paul is also warning that while we must not think to highly of ourselves, we must not think too low of ourselves either, as if we have no worth, that we are insignificant. There some people who have had thoughts that come across their minds when they see others who are spiritually gifted in certain areas, and they begin to think worthless and insignificant because they see themselves not on their level. You might not feel as though you are significant, but you are significant to God, and He has given every one a measure of faith and spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:7, 11; Eph 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10, 11). This is where sound thinking comes into play that Paul tells us to have. We must make sound judgment when we think about others as well as ourselves. Everyone doesn’t have the same strength or weakness of faith and gifts. Don’t try to faithful serve in areas that you are not gifted in. Take what God has given you, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and use what God has given, serve in areas that you are passionate in, and build up the body of Christ.

Romans 12:4–5 “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another,”

Paul uses the analogy of the human body to emphasis that human body has different parts and each body part has its own important function that makes up one body. Likewise the church body is made up of different memembers who have important functions that make up one body. With that being said since each person in the church has different gifts to benefit the one body, the we should never be envious of others gifts, be content with the gifts that God has given you (1 Cor 12:14-20).

Romans 12:6–8 “but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us (by God through the Holy Spirit): whether prophecy (In our time this would not be foretelling future events, but forth telling by the proclamation of the Word of God, to instruct, to exhort, to give comfort), in agreement with the faith (their message must conform to the standard of faith once delivered, in other words the prophetic message had to line up with the Scriptures); or service (diakonia/to serve, to help, Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 12:28), in his serving; or he who teaches (Pastor-teacher who has the ability to expound/interpret God’s Word with clarity Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim 5:17), in his teaching; or he who exhorts (parakaleo/to urge, to call to obey the God’s word, to comfort/console, to excite, to plead, 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:9; not limited to Pastors but to others who exhort 2 Cor. 1:3-5; Heb 10:24-25; , in his exhortation; he who gives, with generosity (not doing so to get recognized or to do so to receive back, but to do so to the glory of God (Matt. 6:2; Acts 2:44, 45; 4:37–5:11; 2 Cor. 8:2–5); he who leads (Proistemi/Leadership/be at the head/to guide/ Of officials and administrators in congregation, (1 Cor 12:28; 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12), with diligence; he who shows mercy (to be able to show sympathy and sensitivity towards to people who are hurting emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and feeling sorrowful), with cheerfulness, sympathize with those who are suffering with a spirit of graciousness (Prov 14:21, 31).”