 My cousin, Emily, works in the National Collegiate Office of the Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO. Her recent newsletter update included a transparent testimony that served as a very helpful and needed reminder. I've included it below with her permission.
This morning I was listening to the beginning chapters of John and took note when Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does" (5:19). I realized that I often, actually almost always, have the wrong perspective about the work I am doing. When my feet hit the floor in the morning, I cycle through the tasks, meetings, and activities scheduled for the day. And I spend a lot of mental energy determining how to best accomplish my to-do list and get the most out of my day. According the verse above, Jesus emptied himself of his personal desires and plans for each day of his earthly life and surrendered himself to the plan his Father had established. He went so far as to say he couldn't do anything by himself. He imitated his Father's actions each and every moment of his life. I realized I rarely approach a day with the thought that I can't do anything scheduled for that day by myself. Instead, I approach each day with confidence that me, myself, and I can accomplish everything slated for that day. As a follower of Jesus, it is wrong, i.e. sinful, for me to approach each day with this mentality. Jesus is more concerned about who I am becoming, not what I am doing. So tomorrow morning, when my feet hit the floor, instead of going through the day's schedule, I will pray, "Jesus, I surrender my plans for this day to you and admit that I can accomplish nothing of Kingdom value in my own strength. I chose to follow your plans and purposes for my life today." Will you pray this with me?
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 Are you interested in Jesus Christ? How do you know if you really are? Anyone can say that, but does your life demonstrate that?
In Philippians 2:4, Paul exhorts the believer to "look not only to his own things [Gk. ta heauton], but also to the things of others." The word "to look" means "to pay careful attention to, to take special notice of." It carries the idea of awareness, that the blinders are off and I'm focused on what's going on with the people around me. In the next several verses, Paul gives us the reason or model for such others-awareness: this mindset was the very mindset of Jesus Christ (vv. 5-8). He was aware of people, and that's why He came to earth (cf. Luke 19:10). Unfortunately, Paul demonstrates that few believers reciprocate this same saving awareness, for "all seek their own things [Gk. ta heauton], not those of Jesus Christ" (v. 21). So, we aren't aware of the people around us, because we aren't very aware of Jesus Christ. 1. So, are you interested in Jesus? Then, focus on people – stop being self-aware, and be aware of people. Against this self-absorbed mold stands Timothy. Paul's testimony of this young man was that "I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for the things about you [Gk. ta peri humon]" (v. 20). The word "to be concerned" means "to be anxious for." We often translate it as "to worry," and it is the same word used in Matthew 6:25 and Philippians 4:6. It carries the idea of genuinely caring for people. Timothy was burdened for people in this way, because he was more than verbally committed to Jesus – he was actively seeking the things of Jesus Christ (v. 21). He recognized that true interest in Jesus Christ will be translated into true interest in people. 2. So, are you interested in Jesus? Then, care for people – stop being self-anxious, and be anxious for people. But, we must take our interest in Jesus Christ one step further. Jesus' interests went beyond merely being aware and concerned for people. His heart for people bled into His service for people, even to the extent that "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (v. 8) that He might take care of their greatest need. 3. So, are you interested in Jesus? Then, serve people – stop being self-active, and be active for people. Jesus wants more than our affirmation that we're interested in Him. He wants us to prove that by being interested in what He's interested in. If you're not interested much in people – you're generally not aware of them, anxious for their welfare, and active in meeting their needs – then you need to meditate much on Christ's interest for you, even when you were un-interesting. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (I John 4:10-11). So, you say you're interested in Jesus Christ. You call Him "Master" and "Lord," do you? That's terrific! But, it's not enough. "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15). Are you interested in Jesus Christ? Then be interested in people. |
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