October 24, 2014 … Others First

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 297

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear the group, Newsong, singing For Goodness’ Sake. reminding Christians that our lives are to reach out and follow Christ … to be HIM for others

 

Highlight Passage - NKJV Titus 3: 1-2 …
  1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
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Highlight Context - NKJV: Titus 3: 1-7 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul counsels Titus on exemplifying Christlike grace …

Reference Passage #1 … Matthew 7: 7-12 — GO TO THIS LINK -   Jesus on the “Golden Rule” - see verse 12

Reference Passage #2 … Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] - Jesus on what discipleship is all about … dying to self, living for others [i.e., “taking up our cross daily”] … as we follow Christ
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … " 

Reference Passage #3 … John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] - Jesus … on loving others first … which is His way for His disciples to live in/for Him
  34 “… A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Reference Passage #4 … Philippians 2: 3-5 — GO TO THIS LINK -   Paul on Christlike living … for others’ first

Reference Passage #5 … Galatians 6: 7-10 — GO TO THIS LINK -  No weariness in going good to/for others

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Poh Fang Chia, tells a story about the island of Singapore which is extremely densely populated. And the Singapore residents have developed a culture of consideration of others … because living for others before self is necessary for the well being of all on that tiny island.

 This morning’s ODB devotional was quite convicting to me because the author used the Apostle Paul’s mentoring of his protege, Titus, to remind me (and all Christians) that Christ taught and expected his disciples (not just the 12) to live for others first, with teachers and ministers of the Gospel (that’s me) to be held to a high standard of sharing God’s love. That was Christ’s message in the Sermon on the Mount; and he walked-the-walk of that lesson as he mentored His disciples, who, after his resurrection went out and spread that “culture of consideration” all over the known world at the early days of the Church.

 So, I will pray for me … but for you too … that we all reach out and BE CHRIST today for someone else in our lives.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Help me to show YOU to someone else today by the way I show Your love for them. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.