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. (Romans 12:3)
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. (Psalm 22:6)
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Sober: Not affected by drugs or alcohol; serious, sensible,
and solemn
We live in an age of drunkenness, even among those who never
touch alcohol or drugs. Our judgment is spaced out. Either we are like Lucifer,
making ourselves like the Most High, or we are worms, and not men. We are kings
wearing our new outfit, demanding high praise from everyone – or heaped abuse,
or comforting sympathy – rather than to admit that we are naked. It’s all about
the mask, the identity with which we seek to be identified. Even among Christians.
If we are to avoid thinking too highly of ourselves, we
must not think too highly in either direction. We aren’t the best of the best,
or even the better of the better, but at the same time, we’re not the worst of
the worst or the worse of the worse. Drunken thinking is “all or nothing.”
When we judge ourselves based on our looks, our wealth, our
education, our occupation, or anything else that we think of as our identity,
we make that thing our God. Even “Christianity” can become a god in our lives. Drunken
thinking compares us to the wrong things.
The only safe and sober way to judge ourselves is in
comparison to God, Himself. And naturally, we will fall short. Of course, we
fall short. But anything else is a form of denial. It tends to lead to anger,
bargaining, and depression. It is only when we can soberly accept the truth that
we can step out in faith.
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