Value Others Above Self
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
How can we minister to someone if we look down at the person? A Christian knows everyone is created in the image of God, and we see what they can be if they walked with the Lord. Even if the person doesn’t respond to God’s truth, we stay calm and leave, but we always show kindness.
When Jesus was crucified, he never said an angry word, he asked John to take care of his mother, he asked the Father to forgive the Romans soldiers that crucified him, and he told the other person on the cross he would see him in paradise. Jesus showed love to his very last breath, and we should do the same. We fight Satan’s hate with God’s love, because it shows the power of God.
The Lord wants us to have agape love for everyone, that is why he tells us to love our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45) The Lord wants us to love everyone because there is no room in our hearts for hate. We are created to love people and hate sin.
With God’s love in our hearts, we hurt for evil people because if they don’t change, we know where their eternal life will be. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) Worldly people tend to take revenge, but Christians reflect God’s unconditional love, and we know the vengeance they will receive from God. How can we value others above self if we have revenge in our hearts?
We pray for our enemies, for those who persecute Christians in this earthly life; that the Lord will change them. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) Our life is in our spirit and not in our flesh, so we have victory over physical death, unless we don’t show love to everyone.
Today reflect God’s agape love to everyone in every condition you encounter, and don’t let Satan trigger anger causing sinful action.
Prayer: Lord, help me to value others above self, with your love and compassion. Help me to love people and to hate sin. In Jesus name, Amen