Sunday Devotional

I want to live Unselfishly!

I have thought about this a lot lately! Over the last two years I have become a very selfish person. I was, the kind of person that would give without ever even thinking or needing something in return, even if it were just someone's love. With Christ's help, (being in His Word and praying daily) I am getting back to my old self. Not my old nature before Christ but my old self. A person that doesn't need or want anything in return for the things that I do or did for others. I can't change the past or my past actions. I have to set the stage for the here and now.

I am so very ashamed of my behavior, may God forgive me!

I want to "Love", expecting nothing in return. I want to "Give", though I may never receive a thank you. I want to "Forgive", even though they might not forgive me. I want to invest everything I have in people even if nobody notices. Isn't this "the high calling" Paul talks about in Philippians 3:14-15? 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Love is a choice - one that costs! I can't love others while I'm starring into a mirror or give to others while I'm clinging to what I've got. Love will cost me time, my money and my preoccupation with myself. I know that I'm not going to just one day turn back into this person. To be loving I've got to take up the cross daily, deny myself and make others my priority.

I remember the woman that was caught in adultery? Jesus stooped down to reach her, stood by her under attack, then sent her home redeemed and refocused. I want to be like Him. I want to be more like Christ! I need to go and find people who are hurting, hopeless, and even wrong. When I do, I need to minister to them until they're redeemed, restored and right. That is, I guess, what I believe to be me living unselfishly!

This verse says it all!
Luke 6:31-35
Chapter 6
31"As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.