Part 6 Sow to Grow: Sowing the Word

Part 6 Sow to Grow: Sowing the Word

Psalms 1:2-3 NKJV
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord , And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Luke 23:38 NKJV
38 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Sowing the Word into our lives is the key to all God’s promises. It is the key to prospering financially, spiritually, and even mentally and physically.

The challenging news:
Over 2,000 languages still do not have a translated copy of God’s Word.

It is true; Christ was either a liar or a fraud, or He is Christ the Lord, our savior, the son of God, God Himself, and the only way to the Father God.

Acts 13:48-49 NKJV
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

These verses teach us that some believed and some did not. Those that believed received eternal life. Those that did not believe did not receive eternal life.

Psalms 96:2-5 NKJV
2 Sing to the Lord , bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.

John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 6:67-69 NKJV
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Acts 4:12 NKJV
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 8:41-42 NKJV
41 You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

I John 2:22-23 NKJV
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

I John 5:12-13 NKJV
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Luke 10:16 NKJV
16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

I Corinthians 15:19 NKJV
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

What fools we are if there was no resurrection of Christ.

What fools we are to base our life on the Bible—to build our lives upon it, to teach our children this word, and to make sacrifices for it—if Jesus did not die and rise again.

II Thessalonians 3:15-17 NKJV
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

There are more manuscripts written that prove the validity of the Bible than any other writings from that time in history. For example, Herodias wrote years after Christ and we only have approximately 8 copies, yet historians don’t deny his writings.

Mark 12:36 NKJV
36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

I John 5:10 NKJV
10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

II Timothy 3:10 NKJV
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

II Timothy 3:13-15 NKJV
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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Sow to Grow part 5

Sow to Grow
Sowing Thankfulness

Today, our focus is going to be on sowing thankfulness.

II Corinthians 9:6-7 NKJV
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

You can’t be a cheerful giver without being thankful.

You are never more like God than when you give.

II Corinthians 9:10 NKJV
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

God has given you everything you need to sow—whether it’s the giving of your money, forgiveness, mercy, thankfulness, or any good thing that you can do for somebody else.

II Corinthians 9:11 NKJV
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

When we are shown mercy, it should provoke thanksgiving in our hearts. When we show mercy towards someone else, they should be thankful.

Psalms 100:4-5 NKJV
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

The translation of the root word of “thanksgiving” is “grace”.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

One evidence of being filled with the Spirit is thankfulness.

Ephesians 5:20 NKJV
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

“For” in the Greek is “huper”. In English, the word means “over” or “upper”. We are to give thanks “over” all things. God doesn’t want you under your circumstances. He doesn’t want you down and defeated. He wants you to praise and thank Him over your circumstances.

Let’s stop getting angry at God for difficulties! Instead, let’s get angry at the devil and rebuke him, thanking God over our circumstances.

I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We are not to give God thanks for everything—which would include bad things—but in the midst of everything.

As we start to give thanks to God in the midst of everything, especially the bad, a divine transformation takes place in our lives; Romans 8:28 is activated:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Do not passively accept bad things! Go into action. Start thanking God. Start praising Him. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

Too many people enter His gates with anger and enter His courts with complaining. Don’t get mad at God. Get mad at the enemy of our soul.

When Lazarus died, the Bible says Jesus wept and groaned. “Groan” denotes deep displeasure. The Lord was angry at the one behind this death

In the midst of our groaning, start thanking God.

Romans 8:37 NKJV
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:35 NKJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

It doesn’t say in verse 37 that we are conquerors after we have come through these things, but rather before, during, and after we face these and similar problems in life.

1. God has more love for you than you can ever fathom.

2. God lives to make intercession for you. He’s praying for you even before the difficult times. He told Peter that He had prayed for Him even before Peter denied Him.

3. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

4. Be a thankful person now, so when bad things come, you’re already practicing thankfulness.

Romans 8:37 NKJV
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Sow to Grow Part 4

Sow to Grow Part 4

Matt. 5:7 NIVUK
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 10:25-37 NIVUK
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 26 ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’ 27 He answered, ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” ; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” ’ 28 ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’ 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ 30 In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” 36 ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ 37 The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Luke 10:33 NIVUK
33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?””

Mercy – compassion to one in need or helpless distress, or in debt and without a claim to favorable treatment.

“…They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him
half dead.”

Luke 10:34 NIVUK
34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Colossians 3:12-13 NIV
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Jesus’ story changes the question from “Who SHOULD I help?” to “Who COULD I help?”

Make Your Investment Mandatory

Luke 10:35 NIV
35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Proverbs 11:17 NIV
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

James Chapter 4

James Chapter 4

James 4:1 NKJV
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Mark 7:23 NKJV
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

The wars and fighting among you are caused by the wars within you.

A. The desires for pleasure

II Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

1. Unreasonable desire for something we don’t have

2. Murderous envy for those whose possessions we love or cherish

3. Open antagonism and discord

James 4:3 NKJV
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

B. Worldliness

James 4:4 NKJV
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The reference is not to physical adultery, but to spiritual adultery. Disobeying God is like breaking a marriage vow.

I John 2:15-17 NKJV
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

II Timothy 4:10 NKJV
10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

John 16:33 NKJV
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

1. He was filled with the Spirit.

2. He overcame His own flesh.

3. He was familiar with Scripture.

C. Pride
The word “pride” means one who shows himself above others; unwillingness to submit.

Proverbs 13:10 NKJV
10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

1. Pride does not recognize its own need. Pride so admires itself, it cannot recognize any need.

2. Pride occupies itself with thoughts of its own goodness.

3. The proud will not let God help.

God’s grace operating in the heart of the humble believer neutralizes the passion that wars in the believer.

James 4:6 NKJV
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

II Corinthians 9:8 NKJV
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

I Timothy 1:14 NKJV
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

James 4:7-10 NKJV
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1. Submit to God
2. Resist the devil
3. Draw near to God
4. Sanctify our lives
5. Purify our hearts
6. Repent when we are wrong
7. Allow the Lord to lift us up

Proverbs 29:23 NKJV
23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

The Principle of Humility
James 4:6
…“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

The Promise of Humility
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The Products of Humility

The elimination of evil-speaking and unscriptural judging
V11-12

The humble live in daily dependence on God.
James 4:13-15
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

Proverbs 27:1 NKJV
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Humility eliminates boasting from our lives.
James 4:16
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

You can tell a great deal about an individual by what they brag about. The proud boast about themselves; the humble brag on their God.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV
23 Thus says the Lord : “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord , exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord .

Sow to Grow Pt. 3

Sow to Grow Pt. 3

Today, we’re going to talk about learning to grow through forgiveness.

Nobody makes it through life free of hurt or personal injury. Either someone somewhere at sometime has hurt you, or they will.

How are you going to respond?
Christ commands us as believers to forgive.

Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Unforgiveness can cause anger, which results in bitterness, which becomes like a cancer that spreads.

Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

When we don’t forgive, we give the devil a foothold in our lives. He will start to build a stronghold if we don’t evict him.

Luke 6:27-28 NKJV
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Psalms 32:1 NKJV
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Matthew 18:21-35 NKJV
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Our Father in Heaven, the master in this story, was moved with compassion.

Matthew 18:27 NKJV
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

Jesus said that not forgiving others after our Father in Heaven has forgiven us is wickedness. Why? Because we are not doing for others what Christ has done for us.

Matthew 18:35 NKJV
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Unforgiveness is a bondage that stifles our ability to love others. It chokes out the abundant life Christ promised to those who would believe. When we refuse to forgive others for their wrongdoing, we withhold love, acceptance, respect, service, kindness, and patience.

That is why Jesus commanded us not only to forgive them, but also to: Love them Do good to themBless themPray for them

God is Our Provider

God is Our Provider

There is no better father than Creator God. He formed us and knows us. He provides for us, loves us unconditionally, and longs for real, life-giving relationship with us. He runs out to meet us in our sin, clothes us with new identity, and restores to us the abundant life he has always planned for us. As we spend time looking at the father heart of God, may a fresh revelation of his love for you guide you into greater depths of relationship with your heavenly Father.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19

 

The Devotional
In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus says,

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Your heavenly Father is the Great Provider for all the earth. He gives rain when the earth needs refreshment. He calls the sun from its hiding when the earth needs warmth. He gives to the animals their food, the flowers their beauty, the birds their shelter, and you and me everything we need.

We worship a God who is both loving and powerful. He is both omnipotent and omnipresent. He is both good and able. If he were not, we would be forced to fend for ourselves, striving for that which he has promised to provide. If he were only good, we would not be assured of the provision his power provides. And if he were only able, we would fear for a lack of his desire to provide. But God is our heavenly Father who both knows what we need and longs to provide for us in exceeding measures. He is our Creator and Sustainer, Lord of all and Lord in all.

So why do you fear for your needs? Why do you stress over the foundational cares of this life while your heavenly Father is seated on his throne? The truth is that until we experience for ourselves both the goodness and power of our heavenly Father, the truth of his provision will only ever feel like a heady, theological principle. Until we experience firsthand the character and provision of our God, fear will remain.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” God longs to perfect you in his love today. He longs to guide you into an encounter with his goodness and power. He longs to establish a foundation of his faithfulness by which you can live in faith. May you have a transformative encounter with the Holy Spirit today that frees you from fear and striving as you enter into guided prayer.

The Prayer
1. Meditate on God’s promises of provision. Allow Scripture to renew your mind and transform the way you act, think and feel.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7-11

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33

2. Where do you have fear in regards to provision? Where are you striving for what God has already promised to provide? Where does God want to bring peace into your life today?

3. Take time to allow God to reveal his goodness and power. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into an encounter with all that God is. Allow Scripture to speak to your circumstances so that you might live today in line with God’s promises.

No matter how old we get, God will still be our Father. We never have to go through a season apart from his perfect provision. We never have to step outside of his leadership and love. He will always be our Good Shepherd. He will always be our Sustainer. And he will always be our heavenly Father who provides. Never doubt the goodness and power of your God. Rest in his promises. And continue to grow in your knowledge of who he is by resting in his presence. May you experience today the abundant provision of your loving, heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

Selfless Love

 

Selfless Love 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5 (NRSV)

Christians often talk about becoming more like Christ. In fact, “Christlikeness” is arguably the most clear and compelling way to think of the journey of discipleship. You and I are faced with a choice, day after day, to open our hearts and lives to the Spirit of God, asking him to renew and restore us from within so that our lives more clearly reflect the likeness of Jesus. Yet what does this look like in actual practice? How can we know if we are truly growing into the likeness of Christ?

According to Paul, we see Jesus the most clearly when we understand the nature of his love towards us. Jesus is the perfect example of humility, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” True humility and selfless love is seen when Jesus does not cling to what is rightfully his but draws near to us in our frailty and weakness. His desire to heal and restore the world is so great that he is willing to empty himself and live as one of us in order to restore us to God. The ability to love another more than we love ourselves has always been and will forever be the single most important character trait we can desire in our lives. It is the clearest and most compelling way that we show our love for God to be true.

In practice, we must acknowledge that this is incredibly difficult to live out. In our wider culture we are told constantly that our personal happiness and satisfaction is the primary filter through which all decisions should be made. If it doesn’t bring immediate happiness and pleasure, why do it? Questions like “where should I study?”, “where should I work?”, or “where should I live?” are rarely driven by a desire to see the flourishing and happiness of another.

To grow in Christlikeness, we must start asking hard questions of how we use our time and where we invest our love. Are you willing to sacrifice your desire for comfort, financial security, order, and restful nights and open yourself to the gift of children, especially if it is the deepest desire of your spouses’ heart? If you have children, are you willing to sacrifice a great promotion in order to be faithful to the promises you have made to be present and invested in their lives? Are you willing to sacrifice a portion of your retirement funds so you can care for your aging parents?

Hard as they may be, these are the kinds of questions we must not only ask, but also have the courage to respond to with faithfulness and bold living that shows the transformation that comes from walking the self-giving way of Jesus!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the humility and love shown to us in Jesus. Give us the grace to follow after his example with courage and boldness. Amen.

Application: Where has your selfishness and concern with your own interests kept you from loving those closest to you as Christ would have you love them?

Related Readings: Proverbs 11:2; Matthew 18:4; James 4:10