City Life Starter

I. The Word: Romans 12:3-10

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members,^e and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,^f with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. Do you find yourself more or less skeptical of others? Why or why not?
2. When was the last time you encouraged the gifting’s and value in someone else? How can you do so this week?
3. Do you see and feel how Christ values you?

We live in a world where we question everything and everyone. Everything in our world screams at us to be skeptical and watch out for ourselves. “We can’t just trust anyone,” quickly turns into, “don’t trust anyone.” It seems like everyone is out for themselves in our culture and we all feel that to some degree. The problem with this skepticism is that it only breeds more and more of itself.

There are always missing gaps that need to be filled in any relationship. Gaps of misunderstanding, confusion, misinformation, etc. When these gaps occur we choose to either insert trust and belief or suspicion and doubt into those missing gaps. Unfortunately, our default is the latter. Why is that? I found that there can be many reasons for this: fear, past hurt, self-preservation, etc.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells them to confirm the gifts in one another and serve each other, ultimately asking them to “outdo one another in showing honor.” That word honor in the Greek is the word timé, meaning to highly value one another. The only true way to do this is to see beyond the person alone and see Christ in them. This helps you to believe the best, hope for the best and encourage the best in them. They too were bought with a price, just as you were, from a loving God who saw something valuable in them. This is not easy to do, because we too easily find fault or look for reasons to excuse ourselves from this loving action. Many would say it’s impossible to live like that unless you’re in a Disney movie where everyone lives happily ever after. I mean who can really constantly believe that someone can be better or can be trusted? But don’t you realize you actually do this all the time?

Every time we personally mess up or act unbecomingly we are always there to believe better in ourselves and believe in ourselves beyond merit. We can justify almost any action action and paint a picture as to why we should be trusted and hoped in no matter what the situation. We will judge people by their actions while only judging ourselves by our intentions. If we could only provide the same love and hope we have in ourselves to others. If we could only give others the benefit of the doubt and encourage them beyond their failures. If we could only look beyond the surface and call out the gifting and value in others. Jesus said something to this that we all know or heard from our parents growing up. “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them (Luke 6:31).”

Would you like someone to call out gifting’s and passions in you? Would you love it if people trusted you more? Would it go a long way to be encouraged and respected?  Give and you shall receive.