A Humble Beginning
Generations of anticipation. Prophets foretold it and the people hoped for it. There, in a simple town, it happened. The Son of God took on the vulnerability, frailty, and weakness of man by beginning His life as we all do—as a baby. Holiness and power were made present in humanity. And to Mary, He was born.
Do you think anyone imagined, after all the prophecies of Jesus’ coming, that He would begin His life on earth as a baby? That He would grow from an infant to a child to a teenager to an adult, the same way that man has since the offspring of Adam and Eve? Even during His ministry, people loved to view Jesus as a conqueror—a man of power that was going to topple the Roman government and establish Himself as their king. They wanted Jesus to show His power in a way that gave them power, too.
And yet Jesus was humble to His core.
He willingly began His time on earth completely powerless, born to His mother Mary into a simple life.
Jesus went from being one with the Father in Heaven, powerful and supreme, to willingly taking on a human beginning, being born as an infant inherently dependent on others. Such humility marked of His life and ministry. He did not come to topple governments but, by His loving sacrifice, topple sin by taking on a human life and then giving it up of His own accord.
The Son of God. Mary’s son. God’s perfect plan made manifest at last.
Humility. It marked Him from the beginning.
Jesus is Exactly Who We Need
Jesus is Exactly Who We Need
Have you ever put your hope in someone, only for them to let you down? We live in a broken world, and even the best people will fall short and cause pain. But Isaiah knew that someone was coming who would be different. He’d be reliable, consistent, and exactly what we need.
In Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah is pointing to a king with four titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. But what do those names mean?
A wonderful counselor is someone wise, intelligent, and compassionate. They’re the kind of leader who provides support, advice, and direction in life.
Someone with “mighty” in their title is strong, resilient, and willing to stand up for what’s right.
This king will be an everlasting father, someone who views His people as His children rather than His servants.
And a prince of peace describes someone devoted to building bridges between diverse groups and ensuring that everyone has what they need for a whole and healthy life.
On Christmas morning, the son with all of these wonderful titles was born. Not in a palace or castle, but in a humble, ordinary manger.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see Him consistently model these qualities. He supported and advised people with questions. He stood strong in the face of threats and temptations. He cared deeply for everyone He met. And Jesus gave His life to restore peace between God and humanity for eternity.
Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Have you seen Him in each of these roles in your own life? How have you seen Jesus’ wisdom, strength, kindness, and consistent care in your life?
God is With You...
God Is With You
The prophet Isaiah wrote the words of Isaiah 7:14 nearly 600 years before Jesus was born. At the time of this writing, the Israelites were doing all the right religious things, but weren’t practicing justice as God commands. Like many prophets during Isaiah’s time, this was a warning against that injustice. But among that warning was a glimmer of hope that God would set things right.
Here, the prophet Isaiah is giving the people of Israel a reason to hope because of God’s good promise—the promise that He will provide a sign and He will show up for us. Because that’s what Immanuel means: God with us.
But what does “God with us” mean for us today?
It means we can share in that hope by fixing our eyes on Jesus and trusting in Him. We can trust that from Christ’s birth to His current reign in Heaven—Jesus is God with us.
He’s with us in our pain when we lose a loved one.
He’s with us in our anger when see injustice and don’t know where to turn.
He’s with us in our sadness when we grieve what has been lost.
He’s with us in our joy when we celebrate with others.
He’s with us in our peace, when we’re merciful to a suffering world.
And He’s with us in our hope, lighting the way to a brighter future.
He is with us.
No matter where life has brought you to in this moment—through the good and through the bad—Jesus has been with you, drawing you to Him. He is the promised Immanuel. He is God with us.
God Keeps His Promises...
God Keeps His Promises
“'The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.'”
Jeremiah 33:14 NIV
A lot of people would have laughed at Jeremiah when he said these words. Why? Because it seemed like God had abandoned both Israel and Judah.
At this point in the story of the Bible, Israel is gone—wiped out by an invading army. Now Judah is alone, and another massive army is at their gates to destroy them, too. The situation couldn’t have been more hopeless.
Have you experienced a moment like that? Maybe it was a life-changing loss, or impossibly difficult news. In those painful moments, it can feel impossible to trust God’s promises. The people listening to Jeremiah probably felt the same way. But it wasn’t the end of their story because circumstances can’t ruin God’s promises.
Yes, the enemy broke in and took God’s people into captivity for decades. But God didn’t abandon His people or give up on His promises. Over time, He rescued His people from captivity and brought them back home.
God hasn’t abandoned you in your pain either. You might feel like there’s no way out of your situation, or that your choices disqualify you from God’s love. But God keeps His promises.
For generations after returning from captivity, God’s people struggled. They continued to face heartbreak, setbacks, invasions, and captivity. But when they least expected it, God fulfilled His promise. He sent His son, Jesus, to lead everyone, including the people of Israel and Judah, into a new and better future.
God's promise of a better future applies to you, too. When we pursue God with our whole lives, we find peace, strength, and contentment. And we live with confidence knowing that one day, we’ll get to spend eternity with Jesus. We have new life believing that God has fulfilled His promise.
Loving Others Well...
Loving Others Well
Do you know what love means? Many people grow up with imperfect pictures of love. It can be difficult to think about when we may not have ever experienced true love. It can be even harder to love others when we aren’t sure what that means.
Jesus spoke a lot about love, and He also commanded His followers to love people. More than that, Jesus modeled love in His life and ministry. He gave us a picture of what pure love looks like.
Jesus instructed His disciples multiple times to love one another. The Old Testament also contains commands to love others. Jesus’ command is new, not because it was the first time it had ever been said, but because He uses Himself as the standard.
He doesn’t command us to love people until we’re tired. He doesn’t say to love others until we don’t feel like it. He says to love others in the same way He has loved us.
Jesus loves us unconditionally. He does not hold anything back from us. Instead, He gave His entire life up for us. And He didn’t do this to please other people—but because He loved His Heavenly Father, and His Heavenly Father deeply loved us. It was unconditional love that led Jesus to the cross.
Jesus cares about the quality of our love toward others, and the measure of the quality of our love is Jesus, not people. We shouldn’t compare our acts and thoughts against other people, because the only person we’re called to be like is Jesus Himself.
Think about the past few days and reflect on how loving you were toward other people. Did you go out of your way to help someone? Were you selfless in showing love? Consider a few practical ways you can love others the way Jesus loves you. Spend some time in prayer, and then take a step toward showing someone love.
The Greatest Commandment...
The Greatest Commandment
In Matthew 22:37 NIV, Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This verse is a powerful reminder of the greatest commandment, calling us to a wholehearted devotion to God. It challenges us to examine the depth and sincerity of our love for Him, urging us to go beyond following the rules of religious traditions and to cultivate an intimate, all-encompassing relationship with our Creator.
Loving God with all our heart means that our emotions and desires are aligned with His will. It means that we prioritize Him above all else, allowing His love to shape our affections and guide our decisions. When we love God with all our soul, we are committing our very being to Him. Our identity, purpose, and existence are rooted in His love, and we find our true fulfillment in living for His glory.
To love God with all our mind is to engage our intellect in the pursuit of knowing Him more deeply. It involves meditating on His Word, seeking His wisdom, and allowing His truth to transform our thoughts and perspectives. This holistic love for God is not a one-time event but a daily, intentional choice to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him.
Reflecting on this commandment, we’re reminded that our love for God should be evident in every area of our lives. It should influence how we interact with others, how we spend our time, and how we use our resources. As we grow in our love for God, we become more attuned to His presence and more responsive to His leading.
Today, let’s surrender our hearts, souls, and minds to God. Let us seek to deepen our relationships with Him, knowing that as we do, we will experience the fullness of His love and the abundant life He promises.
A Belief Stronger than Death...
A Belief Stronger Than Death
Imagine: Your brother has been dead for four days. The grief is so overwhelming that every part of you feels numb. Your tears have run dry, but the pain is far from gone.
Then, Jesus—your friend, the one thought to be the prophesied Messiah, the Savior of the world, the one who’s been doing astonishing miracles—shows up. Only … He wasn’t there to stop your brother from dying in the first place.
But then He does something that’s completely unexpected: He tells your dead-for-four-days brother to come out of his grave … and your brother listens. Lazarus walks out—alive.
Jesus knew that the raising of Lazarus was merely a foretaste of what was still to come. He’d eventually conquer death—for good. In the end, the grave would not have the final say. Those who believe in Him will never truly die, but go from this broken world to something much better.
That’s why the same words Jesus spoke to Lazarus’ sister, Martha, just before Lazarus’ miraculous moment are the same words Jesus would speak to you…
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 NLT
Martha probably had a billion questions and possibly just as many doubts. But she had been with Jesus, she had seen His power, and she couldn’t deny His love. And that’s why Martha responded with:
“‘Yes, Lord,’ … ‘I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.’”
John 11:27 NLT
Though our earthly bodies will die, God has more in store than we can dare to fathom.
Do you believe this?
Let us echo Martha’s heart—to believe that the Lord is exactly who He says He is. Let’s trust God with more than what our eyes can see. Let’s have the faith to follow Him to the end.
Jesus Our Light...
Jesus Our Light
Have you ever stumbled through a dark room, or tried to walk around at night when there were no lights? Maybe you ran into a wall or hit your foot on something.
Do you remember how great it was to turn on the light so you could see where you were walking?
God’s Word says that we similarly walk in the darkness. Life apart from Jesus is characterized by darkness. When we try to live life by our own sight, we inevitably fail.
Jesus is the light that shines within the darkness of the world around us, and within our own lives. He illuminates the truth so that we don’t have to remain captive to our old ways, but can be transformed by Jesus and His grace.
Without His light shining in the darkness, we would be lost and without hope.
Jesus is also the one who directs our paths. Just like how we stumble through darkness without a physical light, Jesus is the light that illuminates the way of life for us.
John 1:5 also tells us that the light of Jesus cannot be overcome by anything. There are no spiritual powers or world events that can overcome the light of Jesus. And there is nothing that anyone can do to separate us from the love and light of God.
Spend some time today in prayer, thanking Jesus for the salvation that you have, but also asking Him to continue to illuminate the path of life for you. Then, let the light of Jesus shine through you in the way you love those around you.
Loving God and Loving People...
Loving God and Loving People
In Matthew 22, we see the religious leaders of Jesus’ day trying to trip Him up with hard questions. One of the questions asked of Him was this:
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
In an effort to trap Jesus, this Pharisee asked Him something designed to expose ignorance or false teaching or anything else they could hold against Jesus and His ministry.
But Jesus was ready.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
Such a succinct, truthful answer did the opposite of what the religious leaders had hoped for. It didn’t discredit Jesus. It validated that He was who He said He was. He didn’t get cornered. He didn’t get flustered. He simply and without wavering, clarified the foundation of everything.
What was Jesus saying?
Loving God with our whole hearts and loving others as we love ourselves—these two things are more important than anything else. They are the foundation of life as a believer. Not being right. Not obtaining possessions or wealth. Not having everything in life just the way we want. Loving God. Loving people.
But here’s the thing— the only way we can ever love people well is if we first devote ourselves to loving God and allow ourselves to be loved by Him. How? Like any relationship, there are ways to facilitate growth:
- Spend time in His Word
- Have honest conversations with Him
- Reflect on His character every day
As your love for God grows and grows, your heart for people often will, too. Showing love for God looks like doing what He commands—and that includes loving the people around us the way that God loves us.
The great news? God loves you so much. He loves you right now. And He is inviting you to know and experience His love today.
Clinging to God's Goodness...
Clinging to God's Goodness
For years, nothing in King David’s life looked “good.” His family underestimated him, giants despised him, and his father in law spent years trying to kill him. But the whole time, David clung to a promise that God would establish him, and make him king of Israel.
David never gave up or gave in—he stayed close to God, and waited for Him to act. And when God acts, this is how David responds:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
Despite the pain David endured, he knew that even when life didn’t look good, he still served his good God. And this same God actively fights for us.
Through His Son, Jesus, He has given us continual access to Himself. We can never lose His unfailing love toward us—a love that endures forever, no matter what goes on around us.
David recognized this, and proclaimed it. And every day, we have the opportunity to do the same thing.
Here are 2 practical ways we can respond to God’s goodness and love:
- Thank Him in Prayer
When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, he told them to start like this: “Our Father in heaven, help us to honor Your name.” It’s fine to ask God for things, but real relationships include both take and give. So at least once a day for the next week, go to God in prayer, and thank Him for something He’s done, without asking Him for anything in return.
- Share Your Story
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to honor God by “proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:15-16). So what has God done for you? Where have you seen Him provide, protect, show up, or show off through your life? Look for natural opportunities to share what God is doing in you with someone else.
Right now, reflect on your life and thank God for His eternal goodness. Nothing you have faced or will face is too much for the God who loves you and died for you. Bring Him your concerns, surrender your expectations, and allow Him to reveal the evidence of His goodness in your life.
Our Most Important Work...
Our Most Important Work
All throughout the Bible, Scripture is abundantly clear that love is at the center of what it is to be a follower of Jesus.
In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with everything we are.
In John 13:35, Jesus says that people will know we’re His disciples because of the way that we love others. We won’t be recognized by our knowledge of the Bible, our families, the career paths we take, or the amount of time spent at church. While those are all important things, Jesus says that the most important quality is how we love other people.
1 Peter 4:8 tells us the same thing: we should be among the most loving people on earth, and our goal should be to love each other deeply. Peter, the author of this verse, also says love is the key to forgiving others. Just as we have been forgiven by Jesus, our love for other people should encourage us to forgive those who have wronged us.
Forgiving those who have mistreated us is one of the hardest things to do—it requires that we love deeply. That’s why forgiveness is evidence of a life marked by God’s love.
So if your closest friends were asked about your top qualities, what would they say? Would your top quality be how loving you are towards others? If not, know that you’re not alone. None of us are perfect, and we can all do better at this. Today, ask God to show you ways you can show love to those around you. Let Him fill your heart with love for others.
Entrusted and Empowered...
Entrusted and Empowered
Have you heard the good news? In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
God created us and called us good, but we were born into a fallen world. A beautiful-yet-broken world. A stunning-yet-sinful world. A world where many would rather choose their own way instead of following and submitting to God. A world where others try to earn their own salvation, but fall painfully short.
By the sheer grace of God, He has made a way for sinners through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One who specializes in making all things new.
Paul goes on to say in his letter:
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT
To reconcile, by definition, means to “make peace” or to “restore a relationship.”
If you’ve known the love, grace, forgiveness, and redemption of God, who—through Christ—reconciled you back to Himself, then you have everything you need to help others receive the same gift.
God has empowered you with the ministry of reconciliation—of restoring others back to Him. This reconciliation can happen anywhere: in coffee shops, in corporate offices, in classrooms, and in kitchens. You can remind a child about the grace that’s available to them when they make a mistake. You can remind an adult that they cannot sin so much or so badly they cannot receive the mercy of God.
Wherever people need God, He stands ready to be used by you.
God has entrusted and empowered you to shine His light, show His love, and help others be restored back into His arms.
The Most Important Thing...
The Most Important Thing
When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22 what the most important command was, He didn’t hesitate to recite Deuteronomy 6:5:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (NIV)
The starting point for all of our lives is wrapped up in loving God. We were created to love God and have a relationship with Him. We love because He first loved us!
Amid everything that you have to do in life, the most important thing is that you love God with everything that you are. If we become successful in life but don’t love God, we’ve missed the most important thing.
In Deuteronomy, God instructed the Israelites to constantly keep this command in their hearts and minds. They made physical reminders to help them remember to love God in everything they did. They taught this command to their children as the foundation of all other commands in Scripture.
Take some time to consider your life. Is loving God the primary motivation? Think about how good and merciful God has been in your life. Remember that God loves you more than you could ever imagine. The best motivation to love God is to constantly remember how much He loved us first.
Limitless Riches...
Limitless Riches
Writing from prison to the believers in Philippi, the apostle Paul divulged that he’d learned the secret to being content—no matter the situation.
Because of the faithfulness of God and the generosity of the Philippians, Paul’s needs had been met—even while in jail. He went on to say:
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 NLT
What an incredible perspective from captivity—where Paul was placed for spreading the truth about Jesus.
God had given Paul peace, his friends had sent supplies, and Paul’s joy was unapologetically obvious—despite his imperfect circumstances.
Paul knew that the same God who was taking care of Him would also take care of his friends. He knew that, because Jesus had already made a way, they could access the storehouses of heaven. He knew that, because of God’s generous character, they were covered in His grace.
Have you ever considered what a treasure trove of riches God has? And it’s not just what He has, but also who He is. God’s glorious riches, never-ending resources, and both visible and invisible qualities are limitless, bottomless, boundless, and inexhaustible.
Think about that for a moment.
The amazing thing is—He’s granted us access.
In His kindness, God fashioned raspberries and puppies. In His brilliance, He crafted the human eye and hung the earth on nothing. By His creativity, He made hammerhead sharks and sparkling fireflies. By His power, He designed galaxies that even the smartest of scientists are just now discovering.
The same God who cares for His creation will also provide for you.
When we become His children, we are given the key to eternal riches, to incorruptible goods, and to traits of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Do you need peace? You have a God who brings peace. Do you need provision? You have a God who offers provision. Do you need rest? You have a God who extends rest.
The ways in which God shows up are literally countless, and it’s all because of His gloriously limitless riches.
He Will Lead the Way...
He Will Lead the Way
Moses led the people of Israel for forty years. He led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, gave them the Ten Commandments from his time on Mount Sinai, and walked with them through the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan.
But as he neared the end of his life, God showed Moses that it was time to hand off leadership to another. In a final address to the people of Israel, he shares these final words with his successor, Joshua:
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
This is the last record we have of Moses talking to Joshua. Notice he didn’t say, “Good luck, these people are exhausting,” or, “Here’s a situation going on, I would handle it this way.” Moses wasn’t telling Joshua how to do something, but instead, how to see everything.
Moses drew Joshua’s attention to the most important person in the story: God. Moses had been a crucial leader, but it was only because of God that Israel could move forward. It was only because of God that they made it this far. And because God is the author of the story, His provision would continue after Moses is gone.
Because God was with Israel, Joshua didn’t need to fear anything. And when God is with you, there is nothing to fear. He will lead the way.
Refreshed...
Refreshed
Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?
They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.
The author of Proverbs, a book traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 NLT
King Solomon knew a thing or two about prospering. Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.
Some of the most miserable people on earth are also the most selfish people on earth. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:
The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.
Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).
You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.
So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.
True Humility and Wisdom...
True Humility and Wisdom
God granted King Solomon, the great King of Israel, wisdom beyond measure. From this, King Solomon penned much of the book of Proverbs, providing insight and knowledge regarding right living before God.
Solomon begins the book of Proverbs with this statement:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 ESV
He repeats this truth in our Verse of the Day:
“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
Proverbs 22:4 ESV
King Solomon had more riches than we can imagine. He was honored among the nations and had a full and prosperous life. We might not be kings, but the truth of this statement is timeless.
Hundreds of years later, Paul wrote a prayer for the Christians in his letter to the Ephesians that can provide context for Proverbs 22:4.
“…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe … ”
Ephesians 1:17-19 ESV
His prayer teaches us that by coming to God and His Word with humility, God will give us spiritual wisdom and knowledge. And because of our faith in Him, God honors us and gives us riches that only come with belonging in Christ Jesus. He blesses us because of His great love.
It is through humility and a holy fear of God that we receive His promises of riches, honor, and life. Some of those promises will come to pass on earth, but all of them will be fulfilled when Jesus returns one day. And as we see the fulfillment of God’s promises, our response will be to give God the glory.
Cultivate What Matters Most...
Cultivate What Matters Most
Imagine putting on shirts of compassion, patience and forgiveness. That might seem ridiculous, but Colossians 3:12 tells us to “clothe ourselves” in traits that match our identity in Christ. In other words, we need to cover ourselves in actions and attitudes that result in us looking more like Jesus every day.
So, how do we do this? One way to get started is by thinking of the struggles that keep you from living more like Jesus, and then start to replace them with their opposite action.
- If your communication leans sarcastic and cutting, choose to say something kind instead.
- If you tend to come across as harsh, choose to do something that requires gentleness.
- If you’re holding a grudge, choose to extend forgiveness.
As you go about doing that, choose to take part in activities that build you up spiritually. This could look like connecting with friends who will keep you accountable, memorizing Scripture that you can apply to your life, or cultivating compassion by serving in your community. The more you intentionally pursue actions that lead to humility, compassion, and kindness, the more those traits will become a natural part of your life.
And as you pursue the qualities mentioned in Colossians 3:12, the changes this produces will be most evident in the way you treat other people. The apostle John said that we can’t claim to love Jesus if we hate each other (1 John 4:20), so a life that reflects Jesus is going to embody love. And according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is “patient and kind. … It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. … Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
A life marked by God’s love is going to display the very things the apostle Paul talks about in Colossians 3:12.
So if we want to live like Jesus, then we need to receive the new life He’s given to us and accept His unconditional love. Only then can we begin to reflect His love to others by showing people compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Selfish to Selfless...
Selfish to Selfless
Our default setting is selfishness.
Don’t believe it? Try hanging out with a toddler for a day.
Toddlers want what they want, and they want it now. Toddlers will fight (and sometimes bite) to maintain dominion over their prized possessions. Toddlers have little concern for schedules, agendas, or perfectly white walls.
The good news about toddlers—and people in general—is that they have the capacity to change into selfless people as they grow. But, if toddlers aren’t lovingly redirected and taught how to consider others, that selfishness will continue.
So if we’re naturally self-centered humans, how do we train our minds not to default to selfishness?
The Bible encourages us to model our lives after Jesus…
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
Philippians 2:3-5 NIV
Jesus didn’t leverage His authority for personal advantage—power, pleasure, control, or comfort—but took on the nature of a servant.
Jesus spent His time investing in others.
Jesus focused His attention on helping others.
Jesus gave up His own life for others.
If you find yourself becoming self-obsessed, self-indulgent, or even a little self-righteous, consider asking God for His help.
- Ask Him to help you see people the way He does.
- Ask Him to use any knowledge you gain to love Him and serve others.
- Ask Him to put opportunities in your path to lead others toward Him.
The Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and relationships with other believers are what refines our hearts. And with God’s help, we can change our tendency from living selfishly into living selflessly.
Think About It...
Think About It
Do you ever think about what you think about? Or recognize that your thoughts have power? Or consider how, over time, you’ll become what you think?
Writing from a Roman prison to the believers in the Greek city of Philippi, the apostle Paul knew firsthand the importance of battling hard things with true thoughts. He regularly dealt with opposition, weakness, hardship, and persecution.
But Paul also knew that Jesus-followers were called to a different way of thinking…
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Even in a broken world, God has created good things, and He’s empowered us to notice and to praise Him for it.
The apostle James also reminds us that every good and perfect gift is from God, and Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. So when we focus on what is good and truth-filled, our thoughts shift toward God—the giver of good things and the author of all that is true.
Focusing on what is good might look like reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice for you. It could mean remembering a time when you felt God protect, provide, or prepare you. Or it could look like thanking God for the promises He’s kept, and the love He’s shown you.
Following Paul’s advice isn’t about practicing positive thinking—it’s about fixing our thoughts on God in order to cultivate the mind of Christ in our everyday lives.
So today, think about what you think about. Search for a rhythm of gratefulness and worship. Thank God for opportunities to shine light into a dark world. And look for what is good, pure, and true wherever you go.