Happy November 10th! This is the day that the Lord hath made!
This week’s devotion is “Living for Others” written by Tina Dail! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today!
Make it a GREAT week!
Living for Others – Tina Dail
Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others!
Others, Lord, yes others—
Let this my motto be
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.
An important aspect of the Christian life is wrapped up in the words of this familiar song. From the beginning of his earthly life in a lowly manger to His ascension back to Heaven, Jesus spent his life serving His Father by serving people. Even though it goes against my nature to think about and live for someone besides myself, that is what God wants for me. Allow me to give a few examples that illustrate the importance and the impact of living for others.
God chose an anonymous little girl to teach all of us a lesson on serving others. She had been taken to a strange land when enemy soldiers attacked her town. Separated from her parents, the little girl became a slave to the wife of a military leader named Naaman. One day this faithful servant girl heard the awful news that her master had leprosy. Her attitude toward Naaman’s plight tells us much about her character because she was genuinely concerned that he might be healed. She told Mrs. Naaman that if her husband would get to the prophet Elisha in Samaria, he would get the help he needed. Desperate for healing, Naaman followed the advice of his servant girl and found Elisha. He reluctantly followed the instructions of God’s prophet and washed seven times in the Jordan River and God healed him.
In the days of Jesus, roads were not very good. Of course, without the benefit of gravel or paved roads, people would walk many miles on roads of dust and dirt. Upon entering a home, it was customary to have your feet washed before sitting down to visit or sharing a meal. None of us would consider the chore of washing someone else’s feet a pleasant one, and in the time of Christ, this menial duty was usually assigned to the lowest of the servants. However, Jesus was our greatest example of how to live, and He washed the feet of the disciples. On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus took a towel and a basin of water and humbly washed the feet of all the men in the upper room, including Judas Iscariot, the one who would betray Him! In this remarkable act of servanthood, our Savior demonstrated that true greatness is not about a position, but rather an attitude of service. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” Matthew 20:27
As the death of Jim Elliot and four other missionaries made news around the world, Elizabeth Elliot determined to remain in Ecuador. She continued to work among the Auca and Quichua Indians, translating their languages and sharing the gospel. The following paragraph is an excerpt from a biography about Elizabeth Elliot.
“Everyone gathered around the fire and shared a meal of fish, and the Quichua Christians began singing some of the hymns that Jim had composed for them. It was a surreal moment for Betty. Here she was, sitting with some of the men, who had undoubtedly helped in the murder of her husband, watching them as they listened intently to songs about God’s love that one of the men they killed had written.”
Examples like these convict me. How can I possibly love others the way they did? I simply cannot because it goes against my nature! However, what I can do is ask God to love others through me. I can ask God to help me become more selfless with my time, my finances, my talents, and my efforts to win souls. People sense when you give with love. They know when your heart is invested in your actions. It’s not about “how big” or “how much,” but it is about your heart. It is giving without expecting something in return.
A life spent for others will not be done without the Holy Spirit working through us. We will get hurt. We will be mistreated and misunderstood at times. For us to live selflessly in the pattern given to us by Jesus, we must understand that God alone is the source of love I give to others. He never changes and His love for us never fails! Near the top of our prayer lists should be a request for God to give us a genuine love for others.
https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/living-for-others-tina-dail
