Based on “Gel and Flow Together – Everyone Is Needed” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
7/31-8/01/10, Message #6057; Daily Devotional #1 - “Love One Another”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Today, there is someone you know who is hurting. There is someone who needs encouraging words, comfort, fellowship, and mercy. It may be a close friend, a coworker, or someone you hardly know at all. Their need may come in the form of an illness, a broken relationship, economic hardship, or a struggle with faith. How could you possibly help them? You have your own problems to worry about. You don’t have the time, the money, or the energy to let someone else’s problems sap the life out of you. You are afraid you’ll say or do the wrong thing that will drive that person right over the edge. After all, you’re not a therapist, a pastor, or a financial advisor. That person needs someone more qualified than you to help them with a problem that big. Don’t they? Even God doesn’t expect you to help everyone who comes along with a need. Does He? You have to be discerning. You have to pick your charities. You can’t help everyone! You know, everyone has a hard luck story!
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) We live in a “me centered” world, a world that tells us that we shouldn’t get involved. Talk shows, therapists, and well meaning friends and families advise us that we must take care of ourselves first before we take care of others. We are wired to be self-centered. Ironically our self-centeredness is so ingrained in us that we fail to see the adverse effects it has on our own lives. We will one day reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). If we never put our own needs aside to care for another, how can we expect another to care for us when we are in need? God’s Word teaches us to live our lives opposite of the ways of the world. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13)
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): To be in Christ means to be committed to growing as a Christ follower. Christ is our example for how we should live our lives. He gave hope to the sick, the lame, the poor, and the forgotten. He still reaches out to offer encouragement, hope, compassion, and mercy to a world of people who have lost the ability to care for one another. He selflessly gave His life in atonement for our sins, and promised that He would make a place in Heaven for those who chose to follow Him (John 14:2). Imagine... our Savior, our creator, our Jesus, in His final selfless act, left this world to make a place for us in heaven when we did nothing to deserve it. Now that is selflessness! Now that is mercy!
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:18-20; John 13:35
blw
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.