Weekly challenge to focus on and practice LOVE through being humble and not selfish. 

Sunday- God’s humility toward us

Philippians 2:5-8  ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;⁷ rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness.   ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Challenge: It blows my mind that the creator of EVERYTHING loves me enough that he would humble himself to make it possible to save a sinner like me.  He is all powerful yet he allowed himself to be persecuted and endured immense suffering because he loved me.  If that does not make you feel precious and loved and grateful and blessed, I do not know what will! Take time today to consider what Jesus voluntarily did for you by humbling himself.  You may want to read one of the Gospel accounts of his trial and crucifixion or Isaiah 53.  What about Jesus humbling himself moves you the most?  Write a thank you not to Jesus.  Now that your love battery has been recharged, as Paul says have the same mindset toward one another.   

Monday – Our lack of selfishness toward God

Zephaniah 2:3  Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,    you who do what he commands.   Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered  on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Challenge: Zephaniah points out that humility is directly tied to obedience.  Jesus is our example of humility toward God.  Jesus emptied himself and became obedient to death. You cannot be selfish and obedient to God at the same time.  What is something selfish that you can empty out of your life so that your love for God can be stronger?  Practice not being selfish toward God by empting yourself.  

Tuesday- Our lack of selfishness toward our Family

Philippians 2:1-4     2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Challenge: We are to value others above ourselves and look not to our own interests but to the interests of others.  List something that you can do for a family member that will allow you to practice this aspect of love.  Now do it.

Wednesday- Our lack of selfishness toward our Friends

Colossians 3:12-14  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. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Challenge: Paul encourages the Colossians to clothe themselves with humility and put on love.  These virtues are to be as evident as the clothes that we wear.  What kind of “clothes” would others say you wear?  Would your friends say that being humble and selfless are part of your wardrobe?  Write down how you could put on humility and serve a friend today and do it. 

Thursday- Our lack of selfishness toward our Neighbor

Romans 15:1-2  We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

Challenge: In this context Paul is concerned with the Romans’ influence on their neighbors and not causing them to stumble.  Two things that Paul mentions in Chapter 14 are eating meat and drinking wine.  Is there anything in your life that when viewed by your neighbor would cause them to stumble?  What is it?  Is it something you have to do or is it something that you do to please yourself?  Show love to your neighbor by building them up and not causing them to stumble with your actions.

Friday- Our lack of selfishness toward our Enemies

Matthew 5:43-45  ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Challenge: How easy it is to react to those that treat us wrong.  Jesus challenges to not act selfishly but to love our enemies and pray for them.  We will be identified as children of our Father in heaven if we love our enemies.  I am ashamed to say that there have been far too many times that my actions have not identified me as a child of God.  How about you?  Prepare yourself for the next difficult encounter.  Write down what you will say and how you will act.  Pray to God that he will help you control your emotions and that he will give you the strength to act like his loving child.

Saturday- Our lack of selfishness toward the Lost

2 Corinthians 4:5   For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Challenge: Have you like Paul become a servant to those around you so that you might win them for Christ?  Write down how can you serve someone that you want to influence for Christ.  Put it into practice.  How did it go?