January 26th, 2023 - Consider Others Better

PAUSE
Lord Jesus what a great day to be alive. While I could choose to focus on the disappointments, heartaches, and frustrations; today I look to you with an overflowing heart of gratitude.

Take a few minutes now to tell the Lord what you are thankful for.

Lord Jesus there is so much to be thankful for today, you have moved in big ways in my life and in the small simple ways, and I am eternally grateful. You tell us to enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise, so today we do just that. As we open up your word Lord come and meet with us now and then give us the fortitude to do whatever you call us to do.

REFLECT
In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes,

'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 these verses, Paul is reminding us to put others before ourselves. So often in our world, we are encouraged to think of ourselves first, to put our own needs and wants before others. But as Christians, we are called to live differently. We are called to think of others before ourselves, to value and love them as Christ loves us.

It's not always easy to put others before ourselves. It takes humility and sacrifice. But when we do, we are living out the love of Christ in a powerful way.

Christ was the perfect demonstration of humility while he walked the earth, some 2000 years ago. Listen to how Paul continues to challenge the church in Philippi by using Jesus as the ultimate example:

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8

C.S. Lewis defined humility, saying, "Christlike humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less."

When it comes to us considering others more important than ourselves, it doesn't mean that we are implying that we are not valuable, but rather that we don't need to be the center of our world. We need to look outside of ourselves and those around us. While this is a challenge, it paves the way to true life. When we are focused inward on ourselves we constantly bombarded with our own issues and problems. But when we look out for the good of others our problems seem to sneak into the background of our lives.

While it sounds backwards and counter-cultural, true life is found when we consider others better than ourselves.

ASK
Take a moment to consider the people in your life. Are there any relationships where you've been thinking of yourself more than the other person?

Ask God to give you the humility and love to think of others better than yourself.

Let's commit ourselves to living out these verses, valuing others above ourselves, and showing the love of Christ in all that we do."

YIELD
"Almighty God, we thank you for the words of Paul in Philippians 2, which remind us to think of others before ourselves. We confess that we often fall short of this standard, putting our own needs and wants before those of others.
But we know that you call us to a higher way of living, a way of love and humility. So today, we ask for your help in putting others before ourselves. Give us the humility to see the needs of those around us and the love to meet those needs in the way that you would have us do.
Help us to be living examples of your love and grace to all those around us. And as we go out into the world, may your love be reflected in all that we do, and may your glory be seen in all that we say.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen."