I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…(Romans 12:3).

A few weeks ago, we were knee-deep in the weeds of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians, where Jesus EMPTIES himself of the privileges of deity, to become a SERVANT. And where the apostle urges all believers to have the MINDSET of Christ.

Now, as we turn to his earlier letter to the Romans, it seems that becoming EMPTY just might be prerequisite #1 for being FILLED with the GIFTS of God’s grace. Whether it’s the gift of faith or teaching or encouragement or generosity, GIFT PREP starts with EMPTYING ourselves.

The simple logic goes like this:

1. It’s impossible to pour anything into a vessel that’s already FULL, and  
2. The EMPTIER we are, the more space we create for God to FILL us with his good GIFTS! 

Paul’s GIFT PREP is not unlike an experience many of us older folks are familiar with. No, not a  colonoscopy, but DOWNSIZING—as people move from a house to a condo, or from an apartment into smaller digs. 

Some find it easy. 

Others liken it to self-surgery. 

But DOWNSIZING, like GIFT PREP, begins with EMPTYING.

Paul advises the church in Rome:

1. offer your BODIES as living sacrifices, and
2. be transformed by the renewing of your MINDS (v. 1, 2). 

He urges them to pour out their lives as an act of worship—to EMPTY themselves. And to allow their MINDS to be transformed—to understand things in a new way.

Then Paul continues:

I say to every one of you: Do not THINK of yourself more highly than you ought…(v. 3).

Being transformed by the renewing of our minds means thinking of ourselves in a new way, too—with the humility of Jesus. For God’s gifts are not a sign of special status or privilege, but the Spirit’s own super-power flowing through us, for the PURPOSE of SERVING our brothers and sisters in the Messiah. 

Finally, Paul reminds us that in the body of Christ, each member belongs to all the others (v. 5).

Think of it! I belong to you, and you belong to me, and together we belong to every other believer at Chatham Community Church and to all believers everywhere—past, present, and future! 

So, while it’s tempting to skip ahead and ogle the list of gifts like it’s some online catalogue, let’s start by focusing on Paul’s GIFT PREP (emptying ourselves) and committing our lives to God’s GIFT PURPOSE (serving one another). 

Empty us, Lord. Help us downsize and divest ourselves of all the unnecessary, unproductive, and peripheral stuff that takes up space in our hearts and clutters our minds. Strengthen our faith. Enable us to let go of everything but you. Renew our thinking and teach us humility. Let our bodies become living sacrifices, worthy of the perfect gifts you have selected just for us, in order to serve the body of Messiah. Amen.