Serving Others - Weekly Devotional - Week 11, 2006

Scripture: "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 Jesus had."

   -Philippians 2:3-5

Application:

Aren't the words- "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves"- hard to follow in today's world?  The phrase -"Lookin' out for Number 1"- is implanted into our brains.  We see it on TV, in music, in school, on the athletic field.  But if we think about what the words really mean, if we take the time out of our busy schedules to truly think about their meaning, it becomes clearer.  It is a mind shift that we are called to make as we go into the world representing Jesus Christ. We are asked to see the world from the point of view of "How can I help the world be a better place to live?" instead of "What is the world going to give me to make my life better?" Many of you have experienced how reaching out and helping others provides benefits for not only those who are served but also for those who are serving. Where is God calling you to serve?  When we put the needs of others before our own, we begin to realize that we have much to offer the world. 

Quote:

"Each day I pray that God will give me the opportunity to help someone below me, and that someone above me will ask God for the same."   - Anonymous

Prayer:
Dear God, Create in me a spirit of humbleness and a willing heart to serve others with honesty and love.  Amen