Bible League: Living His Word 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.One of the problems common to the Christian life is finding our proper place in the body of Christ. All too often people take on positions within the body that don't match up well with the gifts they have been given by God. For example, people who are only gifted to teach think they can also be administrators, or people only gifted to be administrators think they can also be prophets, or people only gifted to be prophets think they can also teach, etc. A second problem common to the Christian life is finding the proper level of our place in the body of Christ. All too often people who have been gifted to operate at a lower level think they can handle more, or people who have been gifted to operate at a higher level think they don't have to do as much as they should. The key to the solution of both problems is the same: do everything in accordance with the faith God has given you. The key, that is, is to do what God wants, not what you want. As the Apostle Paul points out, sober judgment is required here. The great temptation is to think so highly of ourselves that we ignore what God wants from us and what He has gifted us for, both as to the kind and as to the level. The great temptation is to use our judgment in the power of the flesh rather than in the power of the Spirit. True Christian faith is always properly oriented to God's revelation of Himself and His Will. We can save ourselves a lot of grief and heartache by taking the time to discern what God's Will is in these matters by taking the time to use sober judgment guided by faith born of the Spirit. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 25, 26 Genesis 25 -- Abraham's Death; Ishmael, Jacob and Esau NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 26 -- Isaac and Abimelech NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 9:1-17 Matthew 9 -- Jesus Heals a Paralytic, Calls Matthew and Heals; the Workers are Few NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” Insight The people complained about their problems instead of praying. Some problems can be solved by careful thought or by rearranging our priorities. Some can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But some problems can be solved only by prayer. Challenge We should make a determined effort to pray when we feel like complaining because complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions, and prepares us to listen. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Job 19:26 In my flesh shall I see God.Mark the subject of Job's devout anticipation "I shall see God." He does not say, "I shall see the saints"--though doubtless that will be untold felicity--but, "I shall see God." It is not--"I shall see the pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of gold," but "I shall see God." This is the sum and substance of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their delight to see him now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold him in communion and in prayer; but there in heaven they shall have an open and unclouded vision, and thus seeing "him as he is," shall be made completely like him. Likeness to God--what can we wish for more? And a sight of God--what can we desire better? Some read the passage, "Yet, I shall see God in my flesh," and find here an allusion to Christ, as the "Word made flesh," and that glorious beholding of him which shall be the splendour of the latter days. Whether so or not it is certain that Christ shall be the object of our eternal vision; nor shall we ever want any joy beyond that of seeing him. Think not that this will be a narrow sphere for the mind to dwell in. It is but one source of delight, but that source is infinite. All his attributes shall be subjects for contemplation, and as he is infinite under each aspect, there is no fear of exhaustion. His works, his gifts, his love to us, and his glory in all his purposes, and in all his actions, these shall make a theme which will be ever new. The patriarch looked forward to this sight of God as a personal enjoyment. "Whom mine eye shall behold, and not another." Take realizing views of heaven's bliss; think what it will be to you. "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty." All earthly brightness fades and darkens as we gaze upon it, but here is a brightness which can never dim, a glory which can never fade--"I shall see God." Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Chronicles 6:18 "But will God indeed dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built.Exodus 25:8 "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. Exodus 29:43,45 "I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. • "I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. Psalm 68:18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ezekiel 37:28 "And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."'" New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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