This morning I went to church in Austin and got to hear Colt McCoy speak at Austin Stone. Colt talked about Philippians 2:3-11 and how we are called to live as Christ did and strive to leave the impact He left on others. I think this passage is so powerful if you truly look into what it is saying.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
We are called to see others as MORE important than ourselves. That doesn't just mean those specific people who you have a huge amount of respect for. It means everyone. Even the people that get on your last nerve, that you just want to ignore. We must consider them better than ourselves. We must look out for their interests and not just our own. God sent his son Jesus to earth as a human. He was fully man yet fully God. The scripture says that Christ didn't consider His equality with God as something to be used to His advantage. Instead, He made himself nothing, He humbled Himself as a servant. Christ never looked out for only His own interests. He never considered Himself better than others. He served others out of humility. True humility, as Colt talked about this morning is living a life off of this passage in Philippians, a life reflecting the life of Christ. Sure, we won't ever be as perfect as Christ but that's why Christ did what He did. Jesus is the ultimate example of how to live life.
In order to leave an impact on others in this world, we must care for each other, respect each other, serve each other and love each other daily. Years after you pass away, how will people remember you? Will you be someone who was known for their looks and the things they owned? Someone who cared way too much about how much money they made? Someone who only cared about him or herself? OR will you be known as a humble woman or man of God who never saw themself greater than others? Someone who served others on a daily basis and who desired to know Christ better every day of their life? It's not my job to convict you to do or stop doing certain things. It's just my hope and prayer that the Lord convicts us all where we need to be convicted. Colt mentioned how nothing in this life will matter after we're gone, unless it relates to Christ, and the love we shared with others while on earth. If we invest our life into reaching out to those in need, sharing the Gospel, reading Scripture, worshipping the Lord etc., then that's when we leave a legacy. Not only will you yourself be remembered, but Christ in you, which is far greater. Christ will be remembered. Not Eliza, but Christ. That is my personal prayer although it's often tough. We live in a fallen world that tells us the opposite. Make your name known, get into this college, get this job, make this amount of money, help this many people, the list goes on... But in Christ our world is a temporary place to share what He has done and is doing within your life, until we go home, to heaven where we truly belong for eternity. So my challenge to you: simply PRAY. Ask the Lord to convict you. Ask Him to help you live a life reflecting Jesus, serving others, looking out for their interests, and considering them better than yourself. Sometimes it won't be easy but the reward in heaven will be incredible. (1 Cor. 2:9)
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