Beautiful Word Devotional #333

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

The command to “value others above yourselves” goes completely against our basic human nature. Our bent is to look out only for ourselves, to spend our time pridefully satisfying self. But here Paul called us not only to be countercultural but to act in a way completely counter to our very nature.

How can we do this? What can we do to rid ourselves of the selfishness we are born with? We ask God to give us the heart and mind of Jesus Christ, to enable us to see people the way Jesus sees them and to serve them the way he served. Jesus let himself be interrupted and inconvenienced by others; he let go of his agenda for the sake of others.

We can be like Jesus only if we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within us. He convicts us when we act out of selfishness, ambition, or conceit. He opens our eyes to the needy around us. He enables us to die to self.

Lord, I want to die to self and honor you by living for others, amen.