DCLM Daily Manna, Friday January 22, 2016 by Pastor Kumuyi

Topic: How Do You Rate Yourself? [Friday January 22, 2016]

Text: Romans 12:1-8

Key Verse: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

Many people often have an exaggerated opinion of themselves. This may be because of skills they possess or their high attainments in the activities and professions of the world. For some, it may be due to their illustrious family background. Either way, a bloated self-esteem is dangerous, as it can blind the mind to good reasoning and conduct.

Unfortunately, this is not just a problem in the world, but also among Christians. Hence, Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prescribed practical guidelines on how Christians should live. They must present themselves as living sacrifices to God. They must be holy, for that makes them acceptable to Him. They must not conform to the standards of the world, but be transformed and renewed in mind.

They must moderate their self-esteem, recognizing that God has endowed everyone differently. They must function as parts of the human body which, though separate, are inter-related and work in complete unity. Each person has a different gift, and God expects Christians to use their gifts according to the proportion of faith in them. We should neither under-estimate nor over-estimate ourselves. Actually, the basis of our self-esteem is not in evaluating ourselves by worldly standards of success, but in recognizing that what makes the difference is our identity in Christ. Without Christ, we will fail all tests by scriptural, eternal standards. Whatever our talents, we must recognise that they are incomplete without the support of other people's gifts.

The earlier we realise that no one person can do the work of God alone, the better for us, and the more realistic we become in assessing ourselves.

Thought for the day: God lifts those who humble themselves before Him

Bible Reading in one Year: Exodus 20-22

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.