Unselfishness

Before I was saved I was selfish, dishonest, proud, lazy and just about every other kind of sinner you can name. My flesh and yours are still that way. But if you have received Jesus, it has all been forgiven. Now He lives in us, overpowering our sinful nature and enabling us to overcome it. With His help we now ought to become increasingly unselfish. If Jesus has happened to you God wants you to become like Him. One very important characteristic of Jesus is His total unselfishness. Has anything ever happened to you that made you more unselfish? If not, how can you believe that you are a Christian? One of the things that will give you great assurance of salvation is if Jesus has begun changing you from selfish to unselfish. Your unselfishness will include unselfishness to your loved ones but not to them only.

Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Matthew 20:28: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, (to serve) and to give his life a ransom for many.

This devotional material is taken from Today With The King, written by Robert A. Cook. Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved. Used with written permission. You can subscribe to his free daily email articles at Walk With The King Today and/or listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages.

Philippians 2:3-4: Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Read also verses 1 through 30.

Every now and then you ought to back off from what you are doing and ask, Why am I doing this? If you are honest, you will often be amazed at the answer that comes. Paul admonished, Don*t do anything through strife -- to gain the upper hand by arguing. Likewise don*t do anything through vainglory -- to make yourself look better by making comparisons.

Do you want to get along better with other people? Learn to think in these terms: What does this person really need? If he finds that you are interested in what interests him, he will feel safe with you. I learned this truth the hard way one day when I complained to a friend about what I thought was going to be my job situation. When I paused for breath, he replied, Oh, Bob, it*s wonderful how you understand just what I*m going through. He hadn*t heard a word I said about myself because he was too busy thinking about himself. The Apostle Paul implied, Don*t do that! Don*t just think about yourself. Other people have needs too.

Small thought here. Every person you meet will be hurting somewhere. Find out where that painful spot is and if you can, apply the healing balm of God*s love and grace. If you follow this course, your relationships will be easier and more effective. In your daily prayer time, ask God to make you want things for His reasons. Make Him Lord of your motives.

You may contact Ron with questions, comments or prayer requests via email at ronsbibletopics@yahoo.com.

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