Christianity is a constant battle between our flesh and our Spirit. We are so accustomed to living in our flesh that sometimes we do not recognize it for what it is. One thing that I believe gets past us too often is our selfishness. Everything we do revolves around us and what we feel like and what we want. When we decide to follow Jesus it should be about Him.
He told us to take up our cross daily and to deny ourselves if we want to know Him. That sounds like just the opposite of selfish to me! How can we let go of our flesh and turn to our Spirits? The first thing we can do is to recognize our selfish nature and to ask ourselves why we are making the decisions we are. To benefit ourselves or to benefit His Kingdom? When we put others before ourselves we give Jesus a pretty great rep.
Be conscious of others today. Remember that they are to come before yourself before you make decisions that benefit you and leave them with the leftovers. Sometimes we don't even "feel" like giving our time to others because of our selfishness. Make sure to stop and ask Jesus before you write someone off for your own comforts. You never know where He could use you.
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (ESV)
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (ESV)
He told us to take up our cross daily and to deny ourselves if we want to know Him. That sounds like just the opposite of selfish to me! How can we let go of our flesh and turn to our Spirits? The first thing we can do is to recognize our selfish nature and to ask ourselves why we are making the decisions we are. To benefit ourselves or to benefit His Kingdom? When we put others before ourselves we give Jesus a pretty great rep.
Be conscious of others today. Remember that they are to come before yourself before you make decisions that benefit you and leave them with the leftovers. Sometimes we don't even "feel" like giving our time to others because of our selfishness. Make sure to stop and ask Jesus before you write someone off for your own comforts. You never know where He could use you.
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV)
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (ESV)
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (ESV)
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