GPS Guide – June 26, 2019
HEALING AND THE OTHER
Wednesday
Read: Philippians 2:1-4
” 1 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ” (NIV Philippians 2:1-4)
Study: Sometimes it’s hard to be an “others-oriented” person. Such a person is always looking out for other people and thinking about what they need, how they feel, and what concerns they have. You can spot “others-oriented” people in a group. They are always turning their attention to other people and their well-being. But it’s often hard for most of us to be that way. As human beings, it’s easier to think about ourselves than about others, to think of our needs rather than the needs of others, to focus the conversation on ourselves rather than on others. If you wonder why this is so, remind yourself that the very nature of sin is to be self-centered. Because of sin, we find it easier to be concerned with ourselves than with others. In our Scripture reading for today Paul tells us, in effect, “Put away selfish ambition. Put away vain conceit. Consider other people as better than yourselves. Look to the interests of others.” That’s a mighty tall task!
Pray: Spirit of God, continue to cultivate in me the mind and attitude of my Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved me so much that he put me ahead of himself. In your name I pray. Amen!