Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 12:3 (New Living Translation)

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

The Apostle Paul writes to a group of Christians in a big city. “Hey, big city, careful how you think of others in relation to yourselves.”

Coming from a rural area, I scream, “Yes! Those big city folks are all high-and-might and all that and…” And I am an American all better-than-the-rest-of-the-world and…

And then I read the prior verse:

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Don’t act like everybody else. God has more in mind for me.

There is much in these few verses in this chapter of the letter to the Romans. When I candidly consider my life, there is much I should be living that I am not. Please God, help me in my unbelief.