BIBLE PASSAGE:
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:37-39)
MEDITATION:
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments as guidelines for pleasing and
obeying Him. Some believers focus on these commandments, but fail to
grasp the true meaning of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Certainly we
need to obey God’s commandments, but we have to also understand that
being a Christian includes a new mindset and a new attitude.
When Jesus replied to the Pharisees, He gave them (and us) some valuable
information about God’s expectations of those He has saved. Whenever we
follow His advice, obeying the Ten Commandments should be a byproduct
of our new outlook of living life as a Christian.
Jesus said we need to have a new vertical relationship (with God), and a
new horizontal relationship (with our neighbors). If we love God with all
our heart, we will have the capacity to love our neighbors. True love will
find an outlet in service to both God and our neighbors.
Love is the key to having this new attitude and interaction with God
and others. No longer do we look for the faults in others (we look for
the good in them); no longer do we ridicule and discourage others (we
encourage them); no longer do we selfishly focus on ourselves and our
desires with disregard for others (we become humble and value them
above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4)).
The list could go on and on, but we in essence, develop the mindset of Jesus.
In your relationships with one another,
have the same mindset as Christ Jesus
(Philippians 2:5)
When Jesus was in human form, he was a humble and obedient
servant of God. He gave up everything for God, and for us!
Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature
of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:7-8)
ACTION:
Have you developed the mindset of Jesus? Or, do you still have
some of the same attitudes you had before receiving God’s salvation?
According to the scriptures, if you have not developed a humble and
loving attitude toward God and others, then you haven’t achieved
Christ’s mindset.
Jesus was the personification of humility and love. Sure, it can be
a difficult transition for anyone, but if the Lord (Who had all the
credentials for being superior to others) can humble Himself, then
every Christian can do the same.
When you are with others, does your conversation revolve around
you and your activities, or do you spend time asking others about
themselves? Are you a loud person who thinks you are right and
everyone else is wrong? How do you express love toward God and
others?
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your merciful and gracious gift of
salvation. Help me to replace my arrogant pride and selfishness with
humility and love for You, and for others. Jesus has shown me what
true humility and love looks like. Since love demands everything I
have, I pray that You will help me to remove the things in my life
that hinder me from loving You and my neighbor as I should. Help
me to love the way Jesus did when He walked among men.”
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