By: Arnie Cole and Michael Ross
Today's passage
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Reflect
-Is my attitude the same as Christ's?
-Do I ever consider others better than myself?
-How does it feel to know that I can make Christ's joy complete by being one with Him in purpose and spirit?
It may be easy to view some other people as better than ourselves--community or business leaders, for instance, or religious clergy, or perhaps even people like movie stars, musicians, or other pop culture icons. But what about homeless people? Criminals? People we might define as morally flawed? Do we consider those people better than ourselves, too? When Jesus instructs us to be humble, to love in the same way He does, and to be one with Him "in spirit and purpose," He expects us to consider everyone who crosses our path and to approach each person non-judgmentally. After all, when Jesus came down to Earth, He took on "the very nature of a servant" for us. He expects us to approach others in the very same way.
Respond
Ask for Change: Lord, help me approach all people humbly and with humility, without judgment and with Your spirit and purpose.</
Consider what's real: As World Vision President and CEO Richard Stearns says in his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, "Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option." Yes, faith is about experiencing a personal and transforming relationship with God, but it's also about translating that transformation into real, everyday life. One way to do this is by adopting a Christ-like attitude and carrying that attitude with you throughout the day.
Additional verses to consider: James 1:22, John 13:12-17
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