Progress in the Holy Life

The holy life is not static. We must make progress in our spiritual walk.

It is important to understand that everything that follows builds on the first two verses of Romans 12. These verses are foundational. Without the sacrifice (v. 1) and transformation (v.2) nothing in the rest of this chapter is possible. If you haven’t read my previous post about these two verses, you should do so before continuing here.

Once we have taken these initial steps, what comes next?

As we follow the outline of Romans 12, we have a logical progression of thought.

First, make progress through humility and evaluation

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.

Romans 12:3 (ESV)

One of the most dangerous things that can happen is that we start thinking too much of ourselves. There is, of course, danger in thinking we are worthless and have nothing to offer. The opposite is also true.

Instead, we must take an honest look inside ourselves using ‘sober judgment.’ That is, we contemplate what we have been transformed into. We pray and think about what God’s will for our lives is, understanding the amount of faith we have been given. We must also realize that our faith can and should grow! So, where are you right now? Is your faith small? That’s okay because as you feed your faith by following Jesus, it will grow.

Once we have truly determined who we are in Jesus, we can begin to find our part in the body of Christ.

Second, what we do

Our progress in the holy life continues as we participate in the body of believers.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:3–8 (ESV)

As followers of Jesus, we are not embarking on solo missions. We are created to function within a body. So God gives us gifts so the body can perform all the work he gives it to do. There are many spiritual gifts. They are discussed here, in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4.

How do you find your spiritual gifts?

There are spiritual gift surveys out there to help in this regard. Frankly, I don’t believe in them. Finding your spiritual gifts comes from prayer and service. Just as we discover the will of God (what we may not know) by doing the will of God (what we do know), we discover our spiritual gifts by serving in the kingdom. God will use your willingness and effort to help you discover your giftedness. Your gifts are frequently revealed by your vision. That is, where you happen to see needs that require service, you may be the person gifted to supply that need.

It is essential for each follower of Jesus to be actively working in the body of believers. Spiritual health has two aspects in this regard. There is the health of each follower and the health of the body of believers. When each member of the body serves, it maximizes the health of both the member and the body.

Third, make progress through unity

While we have focused on spiritual gifts in our examination of this passage, we must also note the emphasis on the unity of the body brought out by verses 4 and 5.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:4–5 (ESV)

Protecting the unity of the body is so important. Just as our human bodies are one with many parts, so it is with the church. As we continue our journey through Romans 12, we will discover ways we can protect this unity, thrive in our spiritual walk, live with joy, be encouraged and make a profound difference in our world.

Your Turn

I encourage you to spend time prayerfully reading this wonderful chapter. Listen to what God is saying to you and always say yes to him!