Life is About God and Others
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:36-40
If we love the Lord with all heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as our self, then we are putting God and others first. We are commanded to put God first and to care for others as we care for ourselves. Just as Jesus put the Father first, doing the Father’s will, and he put others first as he healed their diseases and brought truth and eternal life by taking our sins to the cross. Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6) If we claim to be a Christian then we walk as Christ walked, putting the Father and others first.
Love is what takes the focus off of self and puts on God and others. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) We can never be free until we are free of self, otherwise the world can take control. Satan does not want us controlled by God because he knows his will is pleasing and perfect, but Satan wants to control us through the world with his evil lies.
When we take focus off of self and minister to the world guided by the Spirit, then the Lord blesses us and enables us to meet our worldly needs. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.(Matthew 6:33) This is a powerful verse if we have the faith to truly put the Lord first, then he will be with us in meeting our worldly needs. Every blessing and divine guidance we receive from the Lord is based on our faith.
Today put others first, providing a listening ear and reflecting the Lord’s love. Pray for the Lord’s guidance for opportunities to minister to someone, to encourage someone. The Lord is pleased when we minister and help others and his pleasure is fed to us through the Spirit.
Lord guide me to put you and others first today. Help me to take focus off of self and place it on others. Increase my faith so I will trust you more each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen