OTHERS

We tend to love ourselves quite well. We love to be happy (or sad if that brings us more attention). We love to have the latest cell phone, mp3 player or super fast computer. We love to eat our favorite dishes and buy the latest fashions. We love it when our friends pay attention to us. We love to be noticed and be the center of attention. We love to do things that we love to do!

The Pharisees once posed a question to Jesus…

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36 - 39 (NLT)

That second commandment must have needed a lot of reinforcing because it can be found in Matthew 19:19, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:8-9, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8 and in the Old Testament book of Leviticus 19:18.

If we love ourselves so much as was mentioned in the first paragraph, ask yourself this question, “How well are we doing at loving others as ourselves?”

Do we strive to see that those around us are happy? Do we get them the latest high-tech toys, cook them their favorite dishes, buy them the latest fashions and make them the center of attention?

Paul, knowing our weaknesses takes it a step further when he says,

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3 - 4 (NLT)

I think of it like this, if we make Christ the center of attention in your life and His love will overflow through you to others.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

IMITATE

It’s interesting to me to observe the behavior of those coming into the SPRING Student Center. Some kids are leaders and some are followers. The problem comes when the good kids that are followers fall in with a leader who doesn’t quite exhibit exemplary behavior.

The Bible addresses this…

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11 (NASB)

We can all admit that there aren’t any “perfect” leaders to follow, at least human ones. So what’s the answer? We are to be…

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

BEGOTTEN

It’s only 19 days to Christmas. Time to buy those last minute presents (or do you wait until the Christmas Eve J). Time to recall who our real friends are and then touch base with our seasonal friends…those that we exchange Christmas cards with and don’t really talk to the rest of the year. It’s a magical time.

Of course, it would be good if we remembered why it’s “magical.” Time to recall that Christmas is in fact named for CHRIST, and regardless of whether the day was originally a pagan holiday or not, those of us who count Jesus Christ as our Savior, celebrate His being born into this world.

Many people are open to the gospel at this time of year. Quite a few of them have even heard a verse or two from the Bible, though they don’t go to church. Like John 3:16 for example,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

He was born to bring eternal life to everyone that believes in Him. Sometimes, we stop there and don’t tell people what it means to “believe in Him.” Then people run around saying “I believe in Jesus” but wonder why there life isn’t any different now than before they believed.

Here’s a verse that may help:

Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. ²The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? ³The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. 1 John 5:1 - 3 (TMSG)

Let’s remember the birth of Jesus, the reason that He came to earth in human form. Let’s tell others about that miraculous birth and introduce them to the Son of God. They too, can be begotten of God. He desires to be their Father. And we, as His children, have a responsibility to listen to Him and follow His will for our lives.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD