Daily Devotional
Are You Caught in The Comparison Game?
“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.’”
Romans 3:9-11
January 18, 2024
Ponder This
Sometimes we think that because of our environment or pedigree, we’re excused or better. I preached one time at a church and a lady could hardly wait to get to see me because my last name is Rogers. She said, “You, sir, are a Rogers.” And she said, “I am a Rogers. My father was a Rogers, and my maiden name was Rogers.” Then she just smiled and threw her shoulders back and she said, “You know, I have studied our family background, and you will be pleased to know that we came over on the Mayflower.” I said, “Well that’s interesting.” I said, “I traced it back further than that.” She said, “You did?” I said, “Yes, we have come all the way from a crooked farmer and a drunken sailor. The farmer was Adam, and the sailor was Noah, and we go all the way back.” We are sinners by birth, by nature, by heritage. It doesn’t matter about our race or our background.
The people in the Book of Romans were wanting to stretch themselves out in the gutter alongside somebody else and say, “I’m better than he or she is.” But you see, that’s not the standard. The standard is the glory of God, and that’s the reason Paul would say later in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We need to quit comparing ourselves to one another.
- Why do we often struggle with comparison?
- To whom do you compare yourself? In what areas do you tend to compare yourself with others?
Practice This
Write down some areas of comparison you struggle with and bring them before God in prayer.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
