Just Act Medium

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. 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).

I read a story of some neighborhood children who decided to build a clubhouse. They worked long and hard on their big project, using a refrigerator box, scraps of wood, and whatever else they could find until they got it just right. Their creation would become a solemn meeting place, a playground, a pretend school; a place where kids could just be kids. They decided they needed a few rules for their clubhouse. They met in secret, tossing ideas back and forth. Finally, they posted these rules on the door:

1. Nobody act big.
2. Nobody act small.
3. Everybody act medium.

Perceptive kids, aren’t they? They recognized a basic problem found in every human circle, and they decided to keep it out of their circle of friends. On their own level they were heeding Paul’s words: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought" (Romans 12:3). Jesus did not lord it over people, nor did He view anyone as being beneath Him. He granted each one the dignity that was his due as a creation of God. But Jesus also did not downplay Himself, even though He came "to serve, and to give His life" (Matthew 20:28).

I know there are some proud people in your world. They act superior because they secretly or openly feel that they are superior. How sad! Maybe one of them is treating you like a second-class citizen even today. You might also know someone who is always apologizing, always putting herself down. They believe they are just not good enough. How unnecessary! Those children had the right idea when they posted their rules on the clubhouse door. They were more right than they could have imagined when they told each other to just "act medium." Commit yourself to “just act medium” today. Allow and encourage others to do the same. Watch the difference it will make in your life!