Romans_12
Scripture
Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Observation- What does it say?
In this chapter, Paul begins by encouraging us to offer ourselves to God as a sacrifice. When we offer ourselves back to God, he will renew and transform us. Paul continues by discussing how we are to be transformed in relation to the family of God. We need to be acting in humility towards each other, and putting other’s needs above our own.
Understanding- What does it mean?
I need to see other’s through the eyes of Christ, who laid down his life for other’s because he knew that his Father was the most important thing.
As a parent, it is easy to see when my boys are putting their wants in front of everything else. Jed wants to be out of the car first. Ezekiel wants to be left alone, all the time. And Matthias wants to eat, even when the food is on someone else’s plate. I know I did it myself when I was their age too. My brother and I competed over everything, simply because we wanted to be first. We both wanted to be the one who was the most important person.
This desire to be important has probably been one of the most difficult things for me to dispense of. I still want to be the best, at everything. It affects my attitude at work, at play and at home. I once got kicked out of a church league softball game because of this desire to be the best. For that moment in time, winning the game became more important than the legs of the girl playing catcher that night.
Good sportsmanship is probably one of the most practical versions of God’s love that we can show to other’s. When I learn to genuinely rejoice with other’s, instead of being upset that they got something I want, it can show the power of God changing us little by little. Paul wrote about this same thing to the Philippians (2:5-11), stating that we nee to learn to lay ourselves down in service for one another.
Life application
I need to help people find the path to God, and that requires humility.