Overcoming Our Shadow World

Rom 12:3 “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 measure of faith God has given you.”

Hmm… I think we all like to think of ourselves as humble people. Maybe before we came to the Lord we were glory hounds but we like to think that we have toned things down and have started to learn how to be humble.

At least until certain situations start to pop up. 

It seems like the enemy knows all the buttons to push. I recently have been doubling my efforts to get closer to the Lord.  In doing so, I have been reading several books that have challenged my “comfortable” Christianity and are pushing me to be more active in my daily walk.  I know that I am supposed to have a life changing impact on the lives of the people around me.  I am trying to serve more, become involved in more local ministries and am even praying about what missions’ He wants me to be involved with. 

All good things, right? Well, the only problem is that I find myself being judgmental of others who are not doing these things. I look at my church and in spite of all the things they do I find them lacking in one way or another. I find myself battling a critical spirit.

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

When I see people doing certain things I think to myself, “I can do that. In fact I can do it better.”  When I go to bed at night my mind starts to wander and I find myself thinking of all the wonderful things that I could be doing for God.

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

When I get passed over for a promotion or someone gets recognition over me I feel slighted and belittled.  When I see people succeed in certain areas I think “why not me?” 

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

When God blesses someone else in ministry and their ministry grows and prospers I think that should have been me.  I’m more experienced and knowledgeable.  How come it works for them and not for me?  Why am I stuck in this job and only leading a small group?

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

I can see the Father looking at me and shaking His head. “Son, I have you exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing.  Only leading a small group? Did Jesus complain when He only had 12 men to disciple?”

“Are you willing to pay the price that others have paid to be entrusted with the ministry they have?  Are you willing to suffer and give up the things that they have given up to be where they are? Are you God that you should question whom it gives me pleasure to bless?”

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

The word that is translated as “sober judgment” is sophroneo in the Greek. This is a word that means to be in your right mind without extraneous influences that may affect it.  Alcohol, drugs, the enemies lies; the ideations of the old man are all influences that distort our thinking.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds what we are doing is ridding ourselves of all these intoxicants that are pleasurable at the time but which lead to pain and death. 

Make no mistake about it, there is pleasure attached to our not being in our right mind.  We can put off thinking about important things that involve sacrifice and discipline.  We can fantasize about a world that revolves around us. It does feel good.  If it didn’t, it wouldn’t have any attraction for us.  That is how the enemy hooks us. But eventually, this shadow world of our imagination creates pain in the real world and ultimately leads to death.  The pain is there, but it is easy to ignore by spending more time in our shadow world. The more pain, the more intoxicating it is to alter our thinking.  It is a downward spiral that enslaves us and it starts by entertaining a single thought.

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

The solution is to take my eyes off me and put them on Him. When we look at Him it is very sobering.  It puts us in our right mind as we realize how dependent we are on Him. Our job is to be obedient to serve where He has called us to serve, doing what He has called us to do.  Don’t compare yourself to others; compare yourself to Him.  That’ll keep you humble.

The root of it all is me.  I think more highly of myself than I should.

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