You
know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your
sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty. 2
Corinthians 8:9
CHRIST
JESUS gave up His divinity and His place in heaven with the Father and came to
earth as a man. He did it with full knowledge and awareness that His time here
would end with His death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8
JESUS
was fully man with human desires and emotions which the New Testament
Scriptures confirm. We read that JESUS got tired.
He was thirsty
and hungry,
and He became upset at injustices; showed great fear
and sorrow as His time of His passion; and JESUS cried
when His friend Lazarus died.
For
His entire ministry on earth JESUS also suffered harsh and unfair treatment
from many, including His own family. But He remained selfless towards others
who needed what He had to give, and without favoritism.
We
who are the children of GOD should also do the same. In your lives you must
think and act like Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
CHRIST is our perfect example for selflessness.
We
can agree that someone who feeds 5,000 plus people with a meager five loaves
and three small fish is no ordinary human being. This miracle proved that
JESUS had divine powers. But just hours prior to this an event took place in
JESUS’ life that proved He was also as human as the next person.
John
the Baptist, JESUS’ beloved cousin, had been executed by the reigning King,
Herod Antipas. An act of revenge provoked by Herod’s current wife, Herodias, who
hated John because he publicly chastised the couple for their adultery. Matthew 14: 3-11.
When
Jesus heard what had happened to John, he left in a boat and went to a lonely
place by himself. Matthew 14: 12-13a
Like
any of us would be, JESUS was devastated by the news of John’s execution and His
immediate and human reaction was to withdraw from others and grieve the death
of John in private. Except, He never got the chance. At least not then. Instead,
JESUS chose to do for others.
The
crowds heard about it and followed him on foot from the towns. When he arrived,
he saw a great crowd waiting. Matthew 14:13b-14
A
crowd was waiting for JESUS when the boat docked. Sick and troubled people,
desperate for healing, for a word, a touch, for comfort. And JESUS responds, not
with irritation, or dismay, or frustration but with compassion (Matthew
14:14.) Despite His own personal
distress and suffering, JESUS immediately sets aside His own sorrow, His need
for comfort, and He comforts others.
For
hours JESUS gave relief instead of seeking His own. He healed the sick and
broken-hearted, comforted and counseled and prayed. JESUS had what these people
needed and He held nothings back. And when the disciples would have sent the crowd
away hungry JESUS refused to allow it.
“They don’t need to go away. You
give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16
So,
He fed them.
These miracles took place through divine power but it was human empathy and compassion
for the suffering of others that made it happen.
Believers must imitate CHRIST in how we respond to others in need.
Don’t
look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Philippians 2:4
JESUS always did what pleased His Father. “The One who
sent me is with me. I always do what is pleasing to him, so he has not left me
alone.” John 8:29
If
we claim GOD to be our Father, then we too must have the same attitude as JESUS
and do everything to please our Father. (Ephesians 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9).
Twice
in the New Testament GOD speaks from heaven and declares to those present and
the world at large that JESUS is His beloved SON, He’s pleased with JESUS, and we
should pay attention to Him. Matthew 3:17; 17:5
We
can hardly go wrong if we believe what GOD declares about His SON and when following
JESUS means pleasing the Father.
Because
GOD is always very specific about His will, He gives plenty of direct commands for
what He wants:
- Do
not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices
please God. Hebrews 13:16
- Don’t
look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Ephesians
2:4
- Suppose
someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not
help. Then God’s love is not living in that person. 1 John 3:17
- Bear
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
- When
we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. Galatians 6:10
- Being
kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord; He will reward you for what you
have done. Proverbs 19:17
- I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand
to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy
15:11
- Do
to others what you would want them to do to you. Luke t6:31
- Let
no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:24
- Do
not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do
it. Proverbs 3:27
Selflessness puts GOD first in our lives and this pleases Him.
I
have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
GOD
doesn’t ask from us miracles of multiplication and healing. He asks only that
we obey His will. Because He wants us to succeed and accomplish what He has
planned for our individual life purpose, GOD gave each of us unique talents and
resources.
I
like what Christian author Dallas Willard (1935-2013) says about GOD’s designed
plan for us: "God created us very like himself (in his image), but
every one of us is unique. An original, not a copy. We each are made to assume
the role of a particular child of God, and our uniqueness ties in with our
unique purpose. God has ensured us a special place and purpose, giving us tasks
that he specifically wants us to accomplish in our time and in our place.”
Our
cup continually overflows with divine blessing and never runs dry. All that we
are and have come from GOD, is perfect and adequate for our needs with enough
to share.
We
lose nothing when we put the needs of others first, we gain everything. We gain
our Father’s pleasure, His enduring love and His constant presence in our
lives. So, we are able to boast like JESUS that
“…(the Father)
has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases Him.” John 8:29
Prayer
and Thanksgiving: Holy and Righteous Father, to Your name be glory and
honor for ever. Thank You for JESUS our Teacher, Savior and LORD. Increase our passion
to do YOUR will, to learn servant-hood from the Master Servant so we can please
YOU by giving back that which YOU have given to us for YOUR purpose. To you
belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in
the Name of JESUS. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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