Based on “Gel and Flow Together – Everyone Is Needed” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
7/31-8/01/10, Message #6057; Daily Devotional #6 - “For the Love of God and Others”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4) Once we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we also obligated ourselves to His character. We said yes to His Spirit and His divine plan for our lives. We promised to know Him and to make Him known! Which means that we are now able to encourage, comfort, and fellowship just as He did. We have His ability to be tender, compassionate, and joyful to the lost and hurting. Hallelujah! What a wonderful way to live! He has blessed us with His love and tenderness, which in turn draws men and women into His Kingdom. The wonderful idea of “The Great Exchange” cost Jesus His very life, but it also blessed us with His power and ability!
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): This also means that life is no longer all about us! Often we get so wrapped up in daily living that we forget that our lives are now all about Jesus and His Kingdom and not about ‘me, myself, and I’ (which can become a false trinity very quickly, if we’re not careful). We should be doing nothing out of vain conceit or selfish ambition. Our character now should be laced with an abundance of humility and submission to our Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Blessed by His Spirit and His example, we can walk in grace and tenderness here in the earth, just as He did! Besides, it’s so much easier to trust and obey, rather than to be defiant and selfish!
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Once we have that whole trust and obey thing down, then we can look out for the interest of others. No longer completely focused on our own life, we can minister to the Body and to the lost. What has God called you to do? Where has He directed your heart? Perhaps He’s given you a heart for foreign missions, or maybe He is just encouraging you to grow where you are planted. But whatever He has destined for your life, you can be sure that it will be exciting and wonderful! Because we have all been empowered, blessed, forgiven, and ordained as the sons and daughters of God! So go ahead and take that step of faith, and discover the joy of ministry and reconciliation! I promise, you will never regret it!
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Galatians 5:22-24
cd
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.