HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL ABOUT THOSE AROUND YOU?

SCRIPTURE:
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  
Honor one another above yourselves.  
(Romans 12:10)

MEDITATION:
Something unique happens whenever people are saved 
and give their lives to the Lord.
He has a major impact on their character and their perspective on life.
Instead of being focused primarily on themselves, 
they suddenly have an unusual concern for others.
In fact, they often think of others more than they do about themselves.

In general that is not a natural feeling, 
but God changes the hearts of those who belong to Him.
It is really awesome when we stop and think about it.
Of course, at the top of the heap of others they care about, is the Lord, Himself.

Believers find ways to shift their priorities 
to include time for worshipping and serving the God Who saved them.
It is not something easily understood 
by those who are unsaved and are still living for themselves.

Living creatively for Christ in the home and around 
extended family members is the acid test for any Christian man or woman. 
It is far easier to live an excellent life among your friends, 
when you are conscious of public opinion and putting your best foot forward, 
than it is to live for Christ in your home. 

Your own family circle knows whether Christ lives in you and through you.
You can post things on social media that implies to those who barely know you, 
or don’t know you at all, that Christ lives in your heart, 
but those close to you know if He really does live in you.
They can see through the smoke screens because they know the real you.
It is easy for them to see if you sacrifice yourself for others and the Lord.

If you are a true Christian, you will not give way at home to bad temper, 
impatience, fault-finding, gossip, unkindness, suspicion, selfishness, 
infidelity, causing trouble, being a drama king or queen, or laziness. 
Instead, you will reveal through your daily life the fruit of the Spirit, 
which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and all the other Christian virtues, 
which round out a Christ-like personality.

ACTION:
If you are a believer, there are a few questions worth asking yourself.
“Does the Lord truly live in my heart?”
“If He does live within me, how do others know?”
“If He lives within my heart, does my family know it?”
“Can God, and others, see a dramatic shift in my attitudes and priorities?”
“Am I willing to make personal sacrifices 
in order to do things for others, and for God?”

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me and giving me a new 
heart. Change me from the inside out so that I will have new attitudes 
and a greater respect for others, and for You. Make me aware of the 
areas of my life that are still self-centered, and help me to replace my 
selfishness with selflessness. Instill in me a desire to worship You in 
a way I never have before. I have a yearning for others to know that 
I belong to You by what they see in me. May I live so close to You 
that Your love will flow through me to them. Thank You, Jesus for 
going to the cross and making this change in me possible.”