Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 237 – Philippians 2:1-4 – But Take An Interest In Others – Growing As Disciples
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 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. Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)
It’s Not About Me
I know, I know, it’s not all about me. What’s not all about you? Life is not all about me. I am not the center of the universe. Life does not revolve me. The sooner I realize this, I mean really realize this, the better. Why is that? I am more than a little embarrassed to come to realize how self-centered my thoughts have been. Even being embarrassed is another symptom of my problem. People are not thinking about me. I am not on everyone’s mind. That’s true.
What are you going to do about your self-centeredness? Even that is heard to hear. That question is hard to take. But it is one for me to think deeply about. That will be good. However, I do know what I will do. What’s that? I will take my focus off myself and put it on you. That will be step one. I will consider you and all that you want to give me. What do I want to give you? You want to give me encouragement. You want to comfort me with your love. You want to fill me with your Spirit. You want to give me a loving and tender and compassionate heart. You want to root me in fellowship in your body of believers. You want me to work together with fellow believers to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You want to give me a humble and sacrificial heart that has no need or desire to impress others. In short, in more ways that I can think of, count, or even imagine, you want to make me like you. You want me to follow your example. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Yes, I do. That brings me to step two. Step two, was all that you have already mentioned just part of step one? I think so, there is much overlap between step on and step two, of that I am sure. Tell me what is step two. I will look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. I will humbly consider others as better than myself. The way I see it, step one puts my focus on you. Step two puts my focus on others that you have called me to love and serve. If I implement step one and two, I will leave my self-centered life far behind me. I will live the life you have called me to live. I will be able to go and do what you ask of me. Yes, you will. That will be very good.
Lord, I will look out not only for my own interests but also for the interests of others. I will have a tender and compassionate heart for those in need. I will work together with one mind and purpose with fellow believers. I will fully love others just as you love me. Amen
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