On Christian Living (2)

Dearly Beloved, I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. God wants us to be concerned about others. God Himself cares for and is always thinking about His people. Ephesians 2v10 (AMPC) says “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” Amen.

 

I would like us to meditate on Philippians 2v3-5. I have provided various versions of this scripture below.

 

New Living Translation (NLT): “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ had.”   

 

The Passion Translation (TPT): “Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interest. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let His mindset become your motivation.

 

The Classic Amplified Version (AMPC): “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]”

 

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word this day. We thank You for who You want us to be – unselfish, thinking of others and concerned about them. We thank You for the example Jesus set for us. We thank You for Your Spirit in us and the fruit He bears. We yield to You Holy Spirit, that we may abound in love, walk in love, and thoroughly live lives that would glorify God. This we pray with thanksgiving in Jesus name, amen.