IS YOUR LIFE ALL ABOUT YOU, OR DO YOU HAVE CONCERN FOR OTHERS?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them,
because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
(1 Timothy 4:16)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever thought about how awesome it would be if
you had a direct influence on another person being saved?
Try to get a visual of a person suffering immensely in hell.
Think about that person’s eyes glaring at you in pain and
communicating to you,
    “Why didn’t you help me?
      Why didn’t you tell me about Jesus?”

Now try to visualize that same person walking on the streets in heaven.
Imagine them seeing you from a distance, sprinting toward you and
hugging you almost too hard from a heart of gratitude for how you
influenced the most important decision they ever made!

The Bible talks a lot about love so it must be an important attribute for us
to have as followers of Jesus. Jesus was the epitome of love and He is the
One we should strive to imitate. We can see His love pouring out of His
disciples as they tried to encourage others to give their lives to the Lord.

Those earlier followers of Jesus understood the potential they had with
the help of the Holy Spirit. They were aware of how the Lord had gifted
them with the capability of having a positive influence on others. They
knew how the Holy Spirit could touch others with the words He spoke
through them.

In addition, they knew how they could have an influence on others
(good or bad) by the way they lived their lives. In 1 Timothy, we are
reminded of the impact we can have on others by the way we live.
When we live righteously, we contribute to God’s ministry by showing
others what it’s like to live for the Lord. We will not be convincing if
we claim to be followers of Christ, but continue to live in a worldly
manner and fail to express love.

If someone joined a civic club and tried to convince you to join as well,
but they never went to any of the meetings, would you want to join?
Many who claim to believe in Jesus seldom or never go to church. What
message does that communicate to those who need salvation for the Lord?

Even if we regularly attend church but still use profanity, drink, use drugs,
commit promiscuity, etc. then we are not going to draw others to the Lord.
These are the things God reminds us of when He says
    “Watch your life and doctrine closely”
He wants us to be aware of how our words and actions can influence others.

ACTION:
As followers of Jesus, you and I are expected to treat others in a different
way than how they are treated by worldly-minded people. Jesus taught
us how to

Question to consider:
    – Does the love of Jesus live within you?
If it does, then you will have a desire to spend a lot of time with Him and
you will have concern for the welfare of others – especially in regard to
their salvation.

As we are told in 1 Timothy, we will have a desire to “watch our life closely”
so we will “walk our talk”. Our faith needs to be consistent, constant, firm
and full of love and concern for others – this is the character others look for
in the lives of believers. If you are a follower of Christ, this means you are
included.

The scriptures are very clear about the attitude we should have.
If we aren’t willing to make the changes to become more like
Jesus, then we are blatantly rebelling against the Lord and His
desire for those who are members of His family. Look at what
is expected of those who are true followers of Jesus:
    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, then make my joy complete by being
    like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
    and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
    vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
    yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each
    of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships
    with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
    (Philippians 2:1-5)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to realize the important role I have in
the lives of others. Show me how to live a life that communicates
my faith in You to others. Teach me to show others how important
You are to me. Help me to change my attitudes and habits so I can
create a pleasing environment for the Holy Spirit to live within me.
Remind me of how the Holy Spirit can work through me to lead
others to salvation. Others can see when my behavior is far from
what is expected of Your followers. I don’t want to cause someone
to miss out on being saved because of the things I say, the way I
behave, and the lack of love in my heart for You, and for others.
Lord, I pray that You would reduce my selfishness and increase
my selflessness so I will have a greater love and concern for others.”

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