“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)
Was Paul closer to God than Peter, was John given a greater measure of faith then James, does your pastor have a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ than you do because of this measure of faith?
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Col. 1:9)
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Eph. 5:18)
If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then how can we be filled with any less than the full measure of faith given to us?
The doctrine of election can be measured in no other way than this, in the mind of man, man’s free will can never be reconciled with the Sovereignty of the living God, but we may need to consider that the only answer to the statement posted above, if we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, can we ever attain to the full measure of faith given us, or is that measure of faith only as much as we need to glorify the Lord in the way that He has seen to bless us with in this life? Are we chosen for specific tasks and that measure of faith is the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Why are some willing to suffer and die for Him when others become embarrassed to speak His name, yet are indeed saved, why are some called to evangelize while others are called to sweep the church. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:” (Romans 12:4)
All necessary, as the Lord sees fit to place them in those positions, yet is the man of God who preaches boldly the Word of God no matter the consequences to himself, given a greater measure of faith, is he filled with more of the Holy Spirit of God than others?
See a glass in your mind here, a cup, how full is your measure of faith, is it half full, does it have barely anything in it at all, is it overflowing, and why is it at the level it is? Is it because of your love for the Savior, your desire to be obedient and the actions behind that obedience, or is it at that amount because that is the full measure of the faith that the Lord has given you?
Can the cup of the one who is filled with the Holy Spirit only be half-full?
Oh, to know the answers to questions that only our Lord can answer!
We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Almighty, yet even Paul said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12)
If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then in our minds we would have the complete measure of faith given us, yet the hand is not the foot. If you are performing what the Lord has called you to do, and if you have great joy in that calling, then you are blessed beyond measure, but you are also called to continue to seek His face, for there is more, there is always more of God to be sought for.
Again, I have no answers for you, and that can be a very good thing, for the hope and prayer is that you will contemplate these words, and that you will continue to grow in His knowledge and will for your entire life, until your final day here.
