“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4………………
I was right on the very verge of contacting someone to help me with something I deemed to be quite important to my ministry work, to my plan for the day, to my agenda, to what I believed I needed to do, to my schedule, to my time-table, to my life’s calling and purpose, to why I was where I was doing what I was doing, to the big picture of my life, as well as the little one of that very day, that very morning, that very hour, of how I expected, and needed, for everything to unfold, when the Holy Spirit of God lifted up His almighty hand in my face, so to speak, and stopped me. I put my telephone away, walked away from my little desk, and yielded myself to the Spirit of God as He reminded me of something and subsequently gave me this message for others who need to hear it.
The truth of the matter is that the person I had planned to contact to help me with something had been tending in days past to a loved one who was dying. Not only was the person dying, but there were exceedingly difficult, immeasurably painful circumstances regarding the people as though the imminent death were not enough. If you care to re-read the paragraph above, you will notice if you did not already something exceedingly important – and sinful. I had been so lost in, so consumed with, so entrenched in, so taken by, so caught up in, so mired in SELF that I had been unable to see past ME until the Lord by His grace and in His love and mercy stopped me. Though I had prayed for these people countless times, and ministered to the person from whom I wanted help as often as I had been given an opportunity, I had clearly in those few minutes that morning reverted to focusing on SELF and trying to satisfy SELF rather than being focused on loving & serving THE LORD and OTHERS. The Lord would provide what I needed when I needed it not for SELF but for HIS GLORY, and what I needed more than anything wasn’t help with that one small matter but instead to repent and yield myself to the Lord, to His will, to His time, and to being available to love and serve Him and others however He desired. Because I have an exceedingly beautiful and close relationship with the Lord, and am ever spending time with Him, seeking Him and more of Him, praying, studying His Word, praising and worshiping Him, listening to Him, etc., I was able to quickly and clearly hear and receive and obey the conviction of His Spirit that day. He delivered me speedily from my selfishness and reminded me we all need to hear this message.
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT about SELF. Following Christ is about THE LORD and a world in need of Him, of hearing the Gospel message, of receiving His love through His followers, and of receiving help and support and encouragement in finding and forever following Him, amen!
Is there an area of your life in which you are consumed with SELF? Maybe even multiple areas? Maybe even your life overall? Turn to the Lord, my friend, and in turning to Him, give of His love to a world in dire need of Him! To God be ALL the glory!