The Measure of Faith

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)

It takes faith to do anything in the kingdom of God. Sometimes Christians feel like God only gives the faith to do supernatural things to a select few. They believe that only the “spiritual elite” can do great things by faith. However, Paul made it clear when he said “to every man among you” that he meant that everyone who believes has faith to do great things.

Every believer has a measure of faith. So, God expects every Christian to operate in kingdom principles and power.

However, Paul gave a warning connected to our individual measure of faith. He told us not to think that you are something amazing because you operate in supernatural power. Instead, he explained if we are truly operating in faith, it will change our outlook — not just about ourselves, but toward the people and the world.

When situations are difficult, it's our faith that keeps us grounded and hopeful. When people are problematic, it’s our faith that allows us to see others the way God sees them.

Paul’s main point should be abundantly clear: humility is key. We need to walk in humility, recognizing that our faith is a gift from God and doesn’t make us more important or less significant than any other.

Practical Application

It is important to pay attention to any prideful talk or thoughts that may come out of our mouths or into our minds. Be vigilant to resist the temptation to talk about yourself or boast about your own abilities. Instead, look for opportunities to celebrate others and encourage them in faith.

Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 15:10

Finding Real Rest

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Have you asked someone recently how they are doing, and they responded, “Tired”? Some say that we live in the age of perpetual exhaustion. People are just constantly tired, no matter how much rest or reprieve they get.

Jesus knew this would happen, so He gave us a powerful promise. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said if we are tired, or feel like the burden of the world is on us, we can come to Him and He will give us real rest.

The word rest in this verse is anapauo in Greek and means a refreshing.

That's what you and I need. Jesus replaces our exhaustion with a refreshing of our souls.

But Jesus doesn’t stop with giving us a refreshing. Jesus said we also can take His yoke upon us. The yoke of Christ represents His teaching and guidance. So, Jesus promised that by aligning our lives with Him, we would find true rest.

Jesus was not offering us a vacation or a momentary reprieve from our exhausted lives. He was offering believers a transformation of how we deal with life. When we surrender to His teaching and submit to His Lordship, we can have a peace that transcends all of our understanding. His yoke is easy to bear, and His burden is light. What you really need when you are exhausted is not sleep, a vacation, or a disconnect. You need Jesus.

Practical Application

When you are tired, don’t give in to the lie that you should take time away from church, prayer, or your relationship with God. During times of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, we should run to Him and He will give us the strength, the peace and the real rest that we need.

Jeremiah 6:16; Proverbs 3:17

God’s Thoughts Toward You

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)

God thinks about you. Never believe that no one sees you and no one cares. God cares. And God's thoughts towards you are not about the wrongs that you have done or how impossible the situation seems. God's thoughts are full of peace and not of evil. His desire is to give you hope for the future.

It's impossible to truly love others if you do not love yourself and see yourself how God sees you. Many in our world are finding it hard to love themselves and see themselves the way God sees them. One reason God had us open our church in Pensacola was to minister to those who are in the Navy and Marine Corps. Why? The United States military suffers 22 suicides every day. They kill themselves because of self-hatred, because of fear, or just because they’ve simply given up.

The epidemic of suicide shows us the urgent need for hope and encouragement for those in the military. Too often, people are consumed by self-hatred and despair and feel like they cannot see any way out of their circumstances.

Suicide isn’t just in the military, though. It’s a real problem in the world at large. But God said in Jeremiah 29:11 that we are called to know the thoughts He thinks towards us. Wherever you are, whatever circumstances are around you, and no matter how bad you think it is, I want you to know that there is a future for you. God has a plan for your life. Don't give up the fight.

The only way for you to change your outlook about yourself and your situations is to get into the Word of God. Then you will hear His heart for you and find His solutions for what you are dealing with.

Practical Application

If you ever find yourself depressed, frustrated with life, or unable to love yourself, get into the Word of God. Listen to messages filled with faith. Get around faith-filled believers and speak what God says about you, not what you feel.

Isaiah 55:8; Psalm 40:5