Skip to main content

Reflection #6: Who Cares? Part Two (Monday, March 26)


Our culture encourages us to look out for ourselves and it’s an easy trend to follow.  Today we want to consider if our personal interests are keeping us from investing in the lives of others.


Philippians 2:1–4, 19-21 (NIV) — 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.


1. Make a list of some of your personal interests.  Do these interfere with your Christian life?

2. Read Philippians 2:1-4. What resources do we have as Christians (v. 1)?  What effect should that have on the way we handle our interests (vv. 3-4)?

3. Read Philippians 2:19-21.  What did the self-interest of most of the people Paul knew keep them from doing? Timothy was an exception. What was his interest (v. 20)? How was he planning to act on this interest (v. 19)?

4. By comparing vv. 20, 21, what would you say are the interests of Jesus Christ? How would you state the relationship between your own interests and those of Jesus Christ?

5. Do you want to be involved in evangelism for your own benefit or for the benefit of others?  Are you genuinely interested in the well-being of the non-Christians and new Christians you are working with?  How does your interest take shape in action?  Are your personal interests adequately under control?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflection #9: Our Commission, Part One (Thursday, March 29)

Jesus left us the privilege of telling this great story of grace to all the world.   All of us are called to participate in this great commission. Mark 16:15 (NIV) — 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Luke 24:45–47 (NIV) — 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Romans 1:16 (NIV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 1 Corinthians 15:1–2 (NIV) — 1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preac...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflection #2: The Father’s Desire (Tuesday, March 20)

A Heart for the Harvest starts with understanding how much God loves everyone and how he so desperately wants a relationship with his children.   Read this beloved parable and   consider the questions provided. Luke 15:11–24 (NIV) — 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflection #4: How Much the Lord Has Done for You (Thursday, March 22)

Jesus changes lives! Mark 5:1–20 (NIV) — 1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A larg...
Post a Comment
Read more