About You

About You

Philippians 2: ¹⁹ If it is the Lord's will, I hope that I will be able to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be encouraged by news about you. ²⁰ He is the only one who shares my feelings and who really cares about you. ²¹ Everyone else is concerned only with their own affairs, not with the cause of Jesus Christ. ²² And you yourselves know how he has proved his worth, how he and I, like a son and his father, have worked together for the sake of the gospel. ²³ So I hope to send him to you as soon as I know how things are going to turn out for me. ²⁴ And I trust in the Lord that I myself will be able to come to you soon.

 

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“What about me?” I pouted on many occasions. There was that time when “this” person got more attention them me or “that” person was given something “I” should have had. The more I thought about these situations, the more angry I became.

 

• I was hurt and lonely.
• I was not able to see other people because I had my own problems.
• I had good reason for voicing “my” problems, “my” discomfort and “my” cause.

 

Paul expresses his deep care about everyone. He wants to send a very dedicated person he adopted as his “son.” He could not hold Timothy to himself, rather felt it more profitable to send him to those in need. His cause was about JESUS.

 

My Observations

• There are times when I want to focus on my needs BUT GOD wants me to see HIS people.
• There are times when I ask “What about me?”, BUT GOD wants me to ask “What about them?”
• There are times when I “feel” like “I” need the attention and to be served and to be seen as special, BUT GOD wants HIS SON to be in the spotlight so HE may be seen by all.

 

“What about me?” is not a bad question. I mean, when I am running on empty, I may not be any good to anyone around me. I need to be filled up as much as the next person. But after I get filled up, GOD wants me to share HIS overflowing love with others.

 

HE wants me to make it about HIM, so HE focuses my attention on “you.” This message is about you and I hope and pray GOD pours out HIS blessings on you. I hope your heart is filled with elation and HE opens doors for you that cannot be shut. I am grateful to have you in my life.

 

Challenge

• What do you think is the writer’s motive?
• Have you ever felt left out, forgotten or not special?
• Will you be filled with the words of love from GOD so you can focus your attention on sending strong people away from you to others in need today?

 

Label Belief

Matthew 16: ¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

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“Mud” was the name of the person I was mad at. They could do no right in my eyes and I could not believe in anything they said. “Smart” was the name I gave a rising star and I listened to every word out of their mouths.

• There have been times I labeled people.
• There have been times I have given a person a name.
• There have been times I put someone in a category and treated them in that fashion.

How I perceived people was how I treated them. If I perceived them to be “higher” than me then I treated them with one level of respect, the opposite went for those I felt were “beneath” me. In my labeling practice I soon labeled GOD based on my lack of faith. HE wasn’t “GOD” to me rather “god” just like everything else.

• JESUS deserves the highest label I can give HIM.
• JESUS deserves to be called what HE is, namely GOD almighty.
• JESUS deserves my trust, faith and obedience due to HIS supremacy over all.

Treating JESUS as common was my problem. Yes HE is a brother and a friend but HE is GOD. HE tells me to stop labeling people HE made and get them to focus on HIM who can raise them from the dead. The higher the label I can place on JESUS the stronger my belief will be in HIM.

• What do you call GOD?
• Is your lack of faith blocking you from placing HIM above everything in your life?
• Can you stop labeling those around you and give them over to GOD today?

Hits Too Close

Matthew 13: ⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

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“But you are supposed to be a role model to me” I said to myself as I watched yet another mentor fall by the wayside. This person seemed like a godly giant, but turned out to be just like the others. My faith dwindled quickly.

• My faith used to be based on someone else’s actions.
• My faith used to be based on what I could see others do.
• My faith used to be easily thwarted by the fall of others.

When “that” person sinned, I would be so disappointed. I could not hear any preaching or teaching from them. BUT GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM and the people HE sends.
• GOD wants me to drop my arrogance of thinking “that” person can’t possibly perform miracles.
• GOD wants me to stop looking at the sinner and look at GOD inside.

I am in a very popular club, namely ALL those who committed sins. Miracles do not come from humans rather they come from GOD. I should focus only on the SPIRIT not the sinner. Judging people weakens my faith. GOD wants me to see HIM in action, even through the highly unlikely.

• Are you judging someone who is an unlikely candidate for GOD?
• Are you basing your faith on someone else’s actions?
• Can you stop looking at others and start looking at the HOLY SPIRIT?