Different Strokes

Have you ever envied anyone? Have you ever NOT envied anyone? Envy seems too easy. I see a nose I like. I hear a lovely voice. I note a muscle or two. I see a house or car, and I envy. Envy is a wicked little thing. It grips our heart and makes us gripe.

Maybe yours is a righteous envy. You see a prayer life. You note an evangelistic zeal. You view an oratorical presence that makes you quiver with envy. Does righteous envy exist?

Paul say simply, in Romans 12:6b, ... according to the grace given to us .... He is talking about gifts and how that they are measured out by the Holy Spirit. There is a different measure for each one of us.

It is the second time that he has mentioned a “measure” in this chapter. The first was when he said, ... according as God has given to every man the measure of faith. Both Faith and grace are measured out by the Spirit.

Our gifts are a result of a Holy capacity. We know some of the spiritual gifts because they are listed in this chapter. We puzzle and wonder about our own. We struggle to apply the spiritual gifts tests. Yet we must remember that these gifts come in measures. The measure is perfect. It is not our measure but God’s.

Sunday I made biscuits. It was my first attempt. I had help as Dawn measured out tidbits of advice. I added all of the ingredients into a bowl and began to mix them up. It was a huge sticky mess! However, as I added a tad more flour the wad began to take shape.

I thought odd the recipe. It told me to roll out the dough. Fold it, roll it out again. Fold it, roll it out again. In fact it said that I was to roll it out seven times and fold it six times!  

I didn't obey the recipe. I didn't count the rolls and folds. However, as I was performing the maneuvers Dawn explained the “why” behind them. “It is to put layers into the biscuits”.

She was right! These biscuits came out looking like I was a professional biscuit maker! They were SO lovely and so luscious that I took a picture of them.

Do you think that the baking soda was envious of the baking powder? “Why does HE always get to be first?” Or how about the Crisco? “WHY did I have to get cut to pieces? It's NOT fair!!”

Silly, right? Exactly!