Scripture of the Day: Philippians 2:3-5
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 others.
Here is a question for you this morning! "What if God designed [relationships] to make us holy more than to make us happy?" This question was posed by Jill Savage and I admit it has been haunting me since I read it! Her point was marriage, but I think you can view any relationship from that lens.
God doesn't promise that our lives will be easy. He doesn't promise that everyone will treat us fairly and that happiness is a daily occurrence. Look at how the world treated Jesus and you can find that! But regardless of how Jesus was treated, he always valued others above himself. Instead of being self serving, he was always "other-serving" if you will.
God intends for us to model our relationships after the lives of Jesus Christ. And to do that the focus of all of our relationships should indeed be the phrase from those bracelets from my high school days - "what would Jesus do?" Step outside of your own happiness, or what you look to gain from any relationship you have - be it with a spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend or coworker - and ask yourself instead how this person can be shown the love of Jesus. Instead of rebuttal, offer grace. Instead of holding a grudge, offer forgiveness. Instead of fleeing a conversation because you are busy, offer time. Instead of a harsh word in anger, offer kindness. Instead of looking at what you have to gain from a relationship, look to what you can give. Instead of condemnation, offer a second (or third, or seventy-seventh) chance. View each relationship as a chance to grow closer to God instead of from the angle of your own happiness.
Take some time today to ponder those words again, "what if God designed relationships to make you holy more than to make you happy?" I sense a change in our mindsets if we really take that to heart!
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 others.
Here is a question for you this morning! "What if God designed [relationships] to make us holy more than to make us happy?" This question was posed by Jill Savage and I admit it has been haunting me since I read it! Her point was marriage, but I think you can view any relationship from that lens.
God doesn't promise that our lives will be easy. He doesn't promise that everyone will treat us fairly and that happiness is a daily occurrence. Look at how the world treated Jesus and you can find that! But regardless of how Jesus was treated, he always valued others above himself. Instead of being self serving, he was always "other-serving" if you will.
God intends for us to model our relationships after the lives of Jesus Christ. And to do that the focus of all of our relationships should indeed be the phrase from those bracelets from my high school days - "what would Jesus do?" Step outside of your own happiness, or what you look to gain from any relationship you have - be it with a spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend or coworker - and ask yourself instead how this person can be shown the love of Jesus. Instead of rebuttal, offer grace. Instead of holding a grudge, offer forgiveness. Instead of fleeing a conversation because you are busy, offer time. Instead of a harsh word in anger, offer kindness. Instead of looking at what you have to gain from a relationship, look to what you can give. Instead of condemnation, offer a second (or third, or seventy-seventh) chance. View each relationship as a chance to grow closer to God instead of from the angle of your own happiness.
Take some time today to ponder those words again, "what if God designed relationships to make you holy more than to make you happy?" I sense a change in our mindsets if we really take that to heart!
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