Philippians 2:1-8
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
If science had anything right, its the fact of adaptations. How animals adapt to their surroundings, their challenges, etc. Most times their adaptation is pure instinct, and they adapt without even thinking.
Birds have wings, spiders have webs, turtles have shells, and humans? What do we have?
SELFISHNESS.
What a great adaptation. But it's true, believe it or not! It really is! Because turtles hide in their shells when they're scared, birds fly away, and humans get all protective and their brains snap to the "what can I do to benefit ME?"
Just like animal instincts, sometimes we don't even notice it. Most times we don't, I think. But the constant need to feel important, the constant need to be ahead of everyone else-- we all have it. Everyone. Why, you ask?
Because. We're human.
The fact of the matter is that Jesus DIED. He didn't just take a few insults from His haters, He was nailed to a cross, not for any selfish reasons but because of us, and because of our sins, our selfish ambitions, our stupid choices we make. God loves us so much that He gives us choices to make, and we fail 99% of the time. We chose what is best for US, instead of thinking of the One who gave us life in the first place.
The hopeful part is that God will always love His children, even if we mess up and get stingy every once in a while. But we must understand they we ARE at fault, even if it hurts to admit it.
The Bible tells us to put others before ourselves, and if that isn't clear enough, Jesus even says that by helping others, we are helping Him.
‘...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
-Matthew 25:40
It might be hard. After all, it's in our nature to be selfish and conceited... we do it without thinking sometimes. But try, at least! Give some effort, because no matter how different it feels, nothing compares to the Cross.
Dear God,
We are selfish, and You call us to turn away from that way of life. It is hard, Jesus. We want to feel better, to feel superior, but You call us to be humble. Help us follow through with that. We give our lives to You, God. Please guide our paths and help us live humble lives in which You are priority, not ourselves.
Amen.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
If science had anything right, its the fact of adaptations. How animals adapt to their surroundings, their challenges, etc. Most times their adaptation is pure instinct, and they adapt without even thinking.
Birds have wings, spiders have webs, turtles have shells, and humans? What do we have?
SELFISHNESS.
What a great adaptation. But it's true, believe it or not! It really is! Because turtles hide in their shells when they're scared, birds fly away, and humans get all protective and their brains snap to the "what can I do to benefit ME?"
Just like animal instincts, sometimes we don't even notice it. Most times we don't, I think. But the constant need to feel important, the constant need to be ahead of everyone else-- we all have it. Everyone. Why, you ask?
Because. We're human.
The fact of the matter is that Jesus DIED. He didn't just take a few insults from His haters, He was nailed to a cross, not for any selfish reasons but because of us, and because of our sins, our selfish ambitions, our stupid choices we make. God loves us so much that He gives us choices to make, and we fail 99% of the time. We chose what is best for US, instead of thinking of the One who gave us life in the first place.
The hopeful part is that God will always love His children, even if we mess up and get stingy every once in a while. But we must understand they we ARE at fault, even if it hurts to admit it.
The Bible tells us to put others before ourselves, and if that isn't clear enough, Jesus even says that by helping others, we are helping Him.
‘...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
-Matthew 25:40
It might be hard. After all, it's in our nature to be selfish and conceited... we do it without thinking sometimes. But try, at least! Give some effort, because no matter how different it feels, nothing compares to the Cross.
Dear God,
We are selfish, and You call us to turn away from that way of life. It is hard, Jesus. We want to feel better, to feel superior, but You call us to be humble. Help us follow through with that. We give our lives to You, God. Please guide our paths and help us live humble lives in which You are priority, not ourselves.
Amen.
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