THINK RIGHTLY ABOUT YOURSELF
My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. —Psalm 131:1-2
Pride has “I” in the middle, is self-focused and does not exalt the Lord. In Romans 12:3-8 we read—
“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. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
So, we are not to be proud and “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). And as we look out for the interest of others, we do so—
- By the grace God has given us
- By thinking of ourselves with sober judgment
- By not thinking more highly of ourselves that we ought to
- By the faith God has distributed to us
- By the function God has gifted us with
With these proper perspectives—
- We will not be proud
- We will “not concern (ourselves) with great matters or things too wonderful” for us
- We will be calm
- We will be quieted
- We will be content
Dear Father, may we have these characteristics as we serve You. And may this be by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus— all for Your honor and glory! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85I6HI2E4AA&list=RD85I6HI2E4AA&start_radio=1
Remember who you are in Jesus!