22 May 2014
Galatians 5:13 “Selfishness v. Love”
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Last night at Jr. High girls’ Bible Study class we were reading about Jesus’ invitation to us from Mark 8:34. He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Our sinful nature is our selfish ways. All of our sins stem from selfishness or Jesus would have added more ways from which we need to turn. Turn from your angry ways, your lying ways, your cheating ways, your prideful ways... But all of those things, anger to pride, are rooted in selfishness, aren’t they?
So if the opposite of following Jesus is following our selfish ways, then the opposite of selfishness isn’t unselfishness. The opposite of selfishness is love. Jesus said to turn from our selfish ways and follow me, and we know that all of Jesus’ actions are rooted in love. So the opposite of living in selfish ways is to live like Jesus, who acts in love.
Instead, use your freedom to serve on another in love. See that? Love.
Dear God,
Help me to not be directed by the selfish things I would prefer to do and say today. Instead, I want to be like Jesus and have all my motives be rooted in love. Thank you for giving me the option to even be like Jesus through the power of your Holy Spirit whom you graciously give to all Believers. Help me to use this freedom you give to love everyone by letting Jesus’ love seep through me. I thank you so much that this is your plan and purpose for me! And I praise you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Galatians 5:13 “Selfishness v. Love”
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Last night at Jr. High girls’ Bible Study class we were reading about Jesus’ invitation to us from Mark 8:34. He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Our sinful nature is our selfish ways. All of our sins stem from selfishness or Jesus would have added more ways from which we need to turn. Turn from your angry ways, your lying ways, your cheating ways, your prideful ways... But all of those things, anger to pride, are rooted in selfishness, aren’t they?
So if the opposite of following Jesus is following our selfish ways, then the opposite of selfishness isn’t unselfishness. The opposite of selfishness is love. Jesus said to turn from our selfish ways and follow me, and we know that all of Jesus’ actions are rooted in love. So the opposite of living in selfish ways is to live like Jesus, who acts in love.
Instead, use your freedom to serve on another in love. See that? Love.
Dear God,
Help me to not be directed by the selfish things I would prefer to do and say today. Instead, I want to be like Jesus and have all my motives be rooted in love. Thank you for giving me the option to even be like Jesus through the power of your Holy Spirit whom you graciously give to all Believers. Help me to use this freedom you give to love everyone by letting Jesus’ love seep through me. I thank you so much that this is your plan and purpose for me! And I praise you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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