“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
Today’s Christian daily devotional
Alyssa drummed her serving tray while staring dully at the game on the television screen. Not one for sports, she didn’t really ‘get’ why the outcome of the Bears’ games affected her tips so much. But, they did.
Right now, the strip club was as dead as it could be. The Coldplay song that the DJ selected wasn’t doing much to lift the spirits of the patrons, either.
Alyssa twisted around, making sure she wasn’t missing any customers. She jutted out her curvy hip in exaggeration—just in case.
A jovial chuckle erupted from the back of the mirrored showroom, instantly grabbing her attention. Alyssa quickly scanned the room. She noticed a portly customer and his favorite dancer were low on champagne and still high on life.
This was Alyssa’s chance to make her move. If she didn’t act quickly another waitress would score that thirty-percent kickback on the over-priced champagne–not to mention the chance of a good tip!
It was a Sunday night; but Alyssa was sober and she wasn’t messing around. Tonight might be her lucky night and that customer might be her winning ticket.
Shaking her head of curls, Alyssa adjusted her rhinestone bra; the one that showcased her fabulous assets so well. Although she wasn’t a stripper, she wasn’t about to waste her time, either. She knew full well that her ample ‘rack’ was as good as a resume’ when it came to bringing home decent tips.
Smiling like a movie siren on the red carpet, she slid in the direction of the twosome laughing; making sure to walk swiftly without looking too desperate. This was her ‘talent’. After eight years of waiting on tables, Alyssa had her slick techniques down to a science.
“Are you two ready for another?” Alyssa wiped the table with the cocktail napkins from her tray; tilting the empty champagne bottle towards the light emanating from the back bar.
She glanced at the dancer sitting next to him. Her hand was placed on top of his, resting in the middle of his lap.
It wasn’t as if Alyssa hadn’t seen this sort of thing before, but that didn’t mean it made her cringe any less.
Quickly, Alyssa bounced her eyes back to the sweating customer.
“Sure thing, darlin’” He smiled in a way that made her feel as if she was covered in chocolate—and he was starving.
Briskly returning to the bar, she placed their order for champagne while exhaling a sigh of relief.
“I may not be a saint, but at least I’m not a dancer. Those girls will do anything for money.” She shook her head in shame, grabbing two champagne flutes.
The waitresses milling around the bar heard Alyssa and nodded in agreement.
With the tray of drinks and glasses in hand, she turned to check her reflection in one of the mirrors. As if on automatic pilot, Alyssa hiked up her cocktail shorts and adjusted that ‘money maker’ bra again.
Swiveling her hips with all that she had, she smiled brightly at the most attractive man in the room—the one who would be tipping her.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
As I read Romans 12:3 my heart feels heavy. I know that I have looked down on other’s, secretly thinking that my ‘sinning’ wasn’t as bad at theirs.
At the end of the day, a sin is a sin. How dare I think that my shortcomings are somehow nobler than another’s?
Lord, I bow down to you. You know how my wicked heart likes to justify my favorite sins. I am through with deceiving myself into thinking that I am better than I actually am.
When I read your word, expose my sin with the light of your word. Show me my detestable ways and give me the kind of heart that will no longer make excuses, but changes instead.
In Jesus precious name, because Jesus died to save all sinners, the worst of the worst and all those ‘in-between’.
I see now that not one of us is righteous in the eyes of a Holy God. I will no longer be delusional about that. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: Romans 12:3
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan