Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually]. ~Romans 15:1-2 (AMPCE)
We tend to think about ourselves and what we want much more often than we think of others. Self-sacrifice just seems to go against human nature. And let’s face it, we all know that when we are spending our time and energy thinking about how we can help others and build them up, there is a lot of sacrificing of ourselves in that endeavor. But God tells us we are supposed to "make it a practice" to look for opportunities to make others happy and to encourage and strengthen them. How often do you begin your day looking for ways to be a blessing to others? When was the last time you looked closely enough into what was going on in someone else’s life to identify a need and then formulate a plan to meet that need? As Christians, that is supposed to be our lifestyle. God tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us….” (NIV) An ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank representing a king or government. You and I are representatives of Almighty God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God in this earth. We are living, breathing instruments that the Lord wants to use to bring healing and restoration to others. We will never know true and lasting joy until we begin to bring joy into the lives of those around us. Jesus Himself said it was more blessed to give than to receive. None of us realize just how profound that truth is until we become givers.
The more we give the more we want to give because it makes us more like our Lord who was the ultimate example of giving. But we must get our mind off ourselves, our wants, and our needs. It’s actually pretty freeing. Meditating on ourselves and what we want or what we want from others can be depressing because most of the time our desires are out of our reach. We need the Lord to make our dreams and hearts desires come true and He says He wants to do just that, but He wants us to be seeking His kingdom and His righteousness first, so He can add to our lives. In other words, be about God’s business and He promises to be about yours! If you have yourself on your mind all the time you won't be looking for ways to give to others extravagantly and that is what we are called to do. It takes time and energy and resources to bring the love of God to others and show them His love through our lives. If you are having trouble getting yourself off your mind, then go to the one who can change your mind. Ask Him to help you redirect your will to His will. He can change your desires to line up with His because He is in the business of making us better people. Live to love and leave your happiness to God. He knows us even better than we know ourselves and He can bless us way more than what we could ever even think to ask for!
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ~Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Who do you know that has a need and what are you going to do to meet that need today?
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