Be Unselfish like Christ
"In your lives, you must think and act like Christ Jesus.
Christ himself was like God in everything.
But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.
But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.
He was born as a man and became like a servant."
( Philippians 2: 5-7 )
A Christ-like life must be the sole aim of a believer. There's nothing greater than doing our best in every moment of our lives to live a life that reflects the abundance of the love of Christ. And that's why we believe that love is above everything. In a heart where you find love, the evil has no place. Everything that we do has the betterment and welfare of everyone around us. Being unselfish takes the same route.
Look at the amazing example that Christ Jesus has set before us. He was born as a man. Moreover, Jesus became like a servant, living his life of example serving people. Just imagine for a moment; make sure that all your imaginative abilities are put together.
"Christ Jesus was like God in everything!" Wow! And what did Jesus do with that? He had all the options to make use of this place given to him and ensure that this higher position of him influences everything around him. But, look what he did. "He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit, but he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing." Isn't that an amazing example set before us.
Christ Jesus, who was like God in everything, gave up his place with God and made himself NOTHING! How great is that? Great as it can be!
Here we are, trying to live our lives; to "think and act like Christ Jesus." And what's that one little thing that takes us away from this Christ-like life. Nothing else, but the selfish ambitions that slowly invade into our unselfish agenda. To live a Christ-like life, you need to first drop down your selfish ambitions; you need to make yourself 'nothing.'
Among the greater visions you've been having in your heart and the thousands of missions that your thought has listed to see this vision a reality, there may be little selfish ambitions. Scan yourself, scrutinize your plans, do a quality-check on your agenda and realize that there is a bit of your side in all these. If you have been questioning your life and ministry, unable to see the Christ-like advances in it, you really need to do this.
Selfishness is the biggest reason why many of us have still not visibly seen the Christ-like life, testimony and ministry! Once this selfishness is carefully removed with time, you begin to see that every part of your life becomes wrapped by this beautiful and glorious mantle called "Christ-likeness."
My dear friend, I encourage you today to begin a life that 'carefully ignores' the selfishness that slowly tries to intrude into your life of testimony and ministry. Let us always keep Christ Jesus in front of ourselves. Let that glorious picture of Christ being "like God in everything" be in front of us. Let that keep reminding us of the greatness that he left behind. Jesus unselfishly became one of us and humbled himself to serve, and not to be served. Let's us follow the same life-style.
May God bless you.
