DIVINE CONNECTION DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY OLADELE T•E
THEME: PRIORITIZING UNSELFISHNESS!
TEXT: [AMP] PHILIPPIANS 4:5
"Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]."
Beloved, one of the beautiful characteristics that should distinguish every believer is UNSELFISHNESS. Our walk with God should not only affect how we relate with Him; it should also be clearly evident in how we relate with other people. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Philippian believers, instructed them to let everyone recognize their unselfishness, considerateness, and forbearing spirit. This means that our Christian life should produce an attitude that is considerate of others and not one that is centered only around ourselves. Unselfishness is the willingness to look beyond your own needs, interests, comfort, opinions, and desires in order to consider the needs and well-being of others.
A selfish person is primarily concerned about, “What do I gain from this?” But an unselfish person is also willing to ask, “How can I be of help? How will my actions affect others? What can I do to make someone else's burden lighter?” Jesus Christ is the greatest example of unselfishness. He did not live for Himself. He came to serve humanity and ultimately gave Himself for our salvation. The Scripture says in Mark 10:45 [NKJV]: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Think about this! The One who deserved to be served became the Servant. The One who deserved to be honoured humbled Himself. The One who owed humanity nothing gave everything for humanity. Therefore, if Christ is living in us, His nature should increasingly be revealed through us.
Love cannot be genuinely expressed through selfishness. If we claim to love people but are completely indifferent to their pain, needs, and welfare, then our love needs to be examined. Can people recognize your considerateness? Can people testify that you are willing to help? Can those around you see that you are patient and forbearing? Can your family experience your unselfishness? Can your church experience it? Can your colleagues and neighbours experience it? The true test of unselfishness is often found in ordinary daily interactions. It is easy to appear loving when there is nothing to sacrifice. But what happens when helping someone costs you time? What happens when forgiveness requires you to let go of an offence? What happens when serving requires you to step out of your comfort zone? That is when the quality of your love becomes evident. BELOVED, MAKE UNSELFISHNESS A PRIORITY!
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, I thank You for revealing to me the importance of living an unselfish life.
Father, Deliver me from every form of selfishness, self-centeredness, and selfish ambition.
Father, Help me to become more considerate and sensitive to the needs of others.
Father, Give me the grace to love genuinely, serve willingly, forgive freely, and give generously.
Father, Let the character of Jesus Christ be clearly seen in my life.
Father, Use me to bring comfort, encouragement, help, and hope to those around me.
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