“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted. People matter to God and as followers of Jesus Christ we view others through the lens of God’s redemptive activity. Be devoted to demonstrating brotherly love to one another. You can add value to others by loving them with the same love you have graciously received from God.
Be humble. Value those God has placed in your life. Treat the next person you meet as the most important person on the planet. Honor others above yourself. Humility is a constant challenge in that we are by nature selfish. To put others first is a supernatural activity empowered by the Holy Spirit living in us. It is natural to think of yourself first; it is supernatural to think of others first. Yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and elevate others in your life. Show them that they matter and that you value them.
- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Phil. 2:3 (NIV)
- “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’” Acts 9:15-16 (NIV)
Ananias chose to consider Saul better than himself. God had affirmed His redemptive activity in Saul’s life and invited Ananias into the process. You could imagine the fear that gripped Ananias after hearing so many reports about Saul being a persecutor of the church. Now God was calling the persecutor of believers to become a preacher of the gospel.
Seek to add value to others by viewing them through the cross. Make yourself available for God’s use and join God in His activity.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Lead Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell