Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Friday September 8, 2023 TOPIC: PLACING OTHERS NEED ABOVE OURS

 

BIBLE READING:

ROMANS 12:1-5

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  

KEY VERSE:

“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4  

MEDITATION:

“Everyone to himself, God for us all” is a common statement most of us may have made or heard at some point in dealing with life issues. Everyone seems to know that God, out of the depth of His infinite love for humans looks out for us all. On the contrary, humans are nurtured and programmed to be selfish and insensitive to the needs of others around them. 

 I remember vividly an incident while I was a primary school pupil. I was instructed by my class teacher to distribute some items among my classmates. I gave everyone without reserving any for myself. The teacher saw my action as stupid. But I nicely told him my Sunday School Teacher taught me to prefer others and put them first. He was shocked to his bones! That action left a long impression in his life.   

Unregenerate individuals have no capacity to place others needs above their own. Until believers are broken and renew their minds with the word of God on a daily basis, it will be difficult to demonstrate love as in the bible passages of today. Love of God is the basis of considering others needs above our own because God Himself is love. Nobody can love God if they don’t love others.  

Like any orchestra it is when each member is allowed to play and sing as assigned that harmony can be achieved. That will mean preferring others as needed in the body of Christ.   

Are you an asset or liability in the body of Christ?  

PRAYER:

Father Lord, I receive grace to prefer others in love.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

PSALMS 119, 1 CORINTHIANS 12