January 26 – YOUR SERVE

 

Don’t view life as a battle; acting always to advance your cause – looking for praise and honor to be heaped on you. Instead, give yourself in service, regarding each other person as more important than you. (Philippians 2:3)

 

               Who do you want to rush past, overlook, or ignore? Do you justify that action with explanations of your busy-ness, important work, or the higher priorities that always call for your attention?

 

               Paul defines the attitude necessary to live each day humbly, with the right understanding of God’s will for your life. He says, “Be alert for the needs of other people, and let their needs control your actions.” Think of a powerful ruler. Imagine the aides, assistants, and servants surrounding that person. Each is waiting, watching anxiously for any opportunity to serve. Each one measures his or her life and success by the quality of that ruler’s experience.

 

               Now, exchange the ruler for the person you see as a burden; the one you wish to avoid. Place yourself before that most undesirable person, like an anxious servant, and begin giving your life in service to them. That is what Jesus requires.

January 25 – WHAT ABOUT US?

 

So, take the next step – I’ll be ecstatic! Focus together as one mind. Find ways to show your love for each other as you become one – body and soul; following our Lord together. (Philippians 2:2)

 

               How big is your “us?” As you think of the people in your life; friends, employees, customers, vendors, and even competitors, are they colleagues and friends? Or, do you see them as members of the other side – rivals and opponents battling you for the same, limited resources?

 

               Paul urges his friends who are facing opposition – and are even those engaged in conflict, to look beyond what divides them. He tells his people to focus on unity, and to perform acts of love. Paul is saying that to will, and to act like, you are part of an “us” is an important step in making “us” become a reality. Business strategists recognize the importance of unity and encourage it, but genuine harmony is rare. It is very hard to create unity where it doesn’t exist. Why is it so hard? Paul explains this. Unity; real oneness requires more than simply desire and effort. Unity is impossible without common purpose and genuine love.

 

               God is the author of love. It is He who gives you purpose that becomes a vision for your people. “Us” – real unity that lasts - is impossible without Him.

January 24 – ANY COST

 

Because Christ has risen, I will suffer and pay any cost He requires for the rest of my life. It’s worth it! I do this so those who hear His word, through my pain, will know and love Him and be saved. (2 Timothy 2:10)

 

               Do you ever repeat the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished?” As you invest your life most fully in your calling from the Lord, does it seem that problems begin to grow around you? Are things getting worse instead of better? Do you think this is strange? Should you be surprised?

 

               Paul’s statement to Timothy, his student, assumes opposition, cost, and suffering. His advice is encouragement for Timothy to see the suffering he will face as a small price to be a part of the Lord’s work in the world. To participate in the rescue of other lives is worth a great cost. Paul is not alone. Jesus spoke often of sacrifice, assuring people who wanted to follow him that they must give up people, places, and things which they loved. He also promised the sacrifices would be worth it. Yes, when God controls your life, there will be a cost. Jesus said you should consider that price as you decide.

 

               Believe the promise of Jesus, and decide, like Paul, that the life promised you and your people is worth any cost.

January 23 – CONSISTENT RESULTS

 

If you focus on God whose Spirit is in you, you will show love for others in an uncommon, selfless way. You’ll be calm and at peace even when you must be patient. Your faith will allow you to be kind and generous. This comes only from relying on God. Following rules will never produce this life – only God. (Galatians 5:22-23)

 

               What did the people around you observe the last time you had a bad day? Did you withdraw? Were you angry? Did others pay a price?

 

               Paul explains that life with Christ allows you to see the events of your life from God’s perspective. This enables you to be consistently faithful. Rather than being angry and selfish, or seeing yourself as a victim and others as enemies, you will experience the peace that will let you be kind and generous. Your life will be different if you focus on the Lord.

 

               You can live this consistent life, even when times are hard. Turn to Jesus when you rise each morning. View each event, meeting, and task from His perspective, considering how you will affect the people around you with your smallest actions. Your life will be different, and others around you will be changed as well.

 

January 22 – MAKE IT CLEAR

 And the Lord said, “Write down the vision I give you; make it clear so the one who reads it will understand and spread hope.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

 

               What do you do when everything is crashing around you, and you have run out of answers? That situation is exactly where Habakkuk found himself just before hearing these words.

 

Facing an overwhelming force, which credited its success to pagan gods, other Israelites cowered in fear, but Habakkuk remembered God. So, Habakkuk, the prophet – God’s leader – went to the place (2:1) where he talked with God, and he prayed for the answer. The Lord gave His answer to Habakkuk and his people. It was an assurance of His power; a reminder that men and the lifeless objects men trust are no match for Him. In short, the message was, “Don’t be afraid. Trust me.” God’s instruction to Habakkuk was just as simple, “Lead my people.” He tells Habakkuk to communicate encouragement and hope in a way they will understand.

 

These same responses will be God’s answer when you go to your place and meet Him during your difficult times. The details will change, but the vision of Hope will always be the same. Write it down. Make it clear.

January 21 – MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

 

My dear friends, keep loving all others (everyone), because love comes from God. Only those whom God has fathered – who know Him – can be loving. One who does not love could never have known God, because God is love, and love comes from Him. (1 John 4:7-8)

 

               People are not reliable. That’s why you trust but verify. You confirm, notarize, guarantee, and collateralize every significant agreement. To love, you must extend yourself, and place yourself at risk. You may suffer loss! When, other than with close family and long-time friends, have you put yourself at risk because of your love for another person? When have you loved one who has hated you in return?

 

               In this letter, John says repeatedly, “The sign of your relationship with the Lord God; the proof that He lives in your heart, and you are trusting Him with your entire life, is that you are constantly, consistently – without reservation – loving other people.” The love he describes assumes that you are so connected to Christ; so much filled with His Spirit, that your whole life will be invested in a love for other people that leads them to Jesus.

 

               Make love your primary vocation. If God is your Father, loving is the family business.

January 20 – MORE PROSPERITY

 

My dear friend (Gaius), first I pray that you may experience the same health you enjoy in your relationship with God in every part of your life, so that you may live out fully all the Lord places in your heart. (3 John 2)

 

               What do you picture when you think of prosperity? Is it power? Money? Fame? Or, maybe you think of great intellect, beautiful appearance, or uncommon skill?

 

               John includes being “well in spirit” and “faithful in truth” (v3) as elements of prosperity. This may be different from how you think of that word. Prosperity has many definitions, depending on the speaker and the context. From Latin, we understand it can mean “according to expectation” and “for hope.” The Greek; to “have a good career,” and Hebrew “making accomplished” are two other choices. John uses all of them here; a blanket of prosperity. He puts hope in God at the center and as the cause of his wish for Gaius to be well and able to meet the Lord’s expectation for his life. He even identifies that “having a good career of accomplishing God’s will is the real prosperity that he wishes for his friend.

 

               How will you define prosperity?