“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” -Philippians 2:4, ESV

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” -Luke 17:33

“We lose what on ourselves we spend,
We have, as treasures without end,
Whatever, Lord, to thee we lend,
Who givest all—who givest all.”
-”Giving to God,” Christopher Wordsworth (1807–85)

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”- Jim Elliot, October 28, 1949 http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/faq/20.htm

“Others, Lord, yes others,
Let this my motto be,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee.”
-Charles D. Meigs, 1917.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/h/others.htm

“…the story is told of a missionary who loved her books. Some she gladly loaned, but others — her favorites — she kept stored in a footlocker under her bed. One night she heard a scratching sound. After searching, she discovered the noise was coming from her footlocker. When she opened it, she found an enormous pile of dust. Termites had destroyed her precious books. That which she had tried to keep for herself, now belonged to no one.” - More Precious Than Silver. Copyright © 1998 by Joni Eareckson Tada. http://www.joniandfriends.org/

What reactions or comments do you have on the thoughts reflected in these quotes? Feel free to submit questions for discussion.

Do we read of any place where the Lord sought for something just to please Himself, or did something simply for Himself?

What are examples of places where the Lord manifested what it was to live for others?

Oh may I die to self today
That Christ may in me live,
And may my joy be found in Him
Who did to others give.

I would not seek the praise of men
for that is little worth,
My cares are to the Father’s will
and not the things of earth.

Oh give me Lord Thy humble mind
that meekly would forgive
The faults and failures of Thine own,
Gave life so I might live.

And oh! Thy love, no tongue can tell
What sufferings were borne;
For peace to reign within my heart
Thou didst bear cross and thorn.

May all I do and all I say
be only for Thee, Lord,
And then one day when Thee I see
I’ll have Thy great reward.

I received these “new” words to the familiar song “Jesus loves me” and thought I would share them with you. I’m not sure who the author is– if you do please let me know so I can post it.

Jesus dying on the tree
Means Jehovah’s just decree-
Words of Him who cannot lie:-
“Whoso sinneth, he shall die.”
 
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! He died upon the tree.
 
Jesus dying on the tree
Means the sentence passed on me
Has descended on His head,
And that He hath died instead.
 
Jesus dying on the tree
Means that mercy now is free;
Free to bless, since He hath died,
And God’s justice satisfied.
 
Jesus dying on the tree
Means - and oh, how blest to see-
That believing, I’m forgiven,
White as snow, and meet for Heaven.

I’ve been enjoying a little meditation on John the Baptist tonight in the gospel of John chapter 1.

John the Baptist
- spoke of the Lord (v23)
- saw and pointed out the Lord (v29)

John’s humility is a great challenge to my pride.
- When others asked him if he was the Christ, he confessed that he was simply “a voice”.
- John humbled himself before the greatness of Him who came after him, who was before him in eternity past. John did not say he was unworthy to walk with the Lord, though that indeed was true. He did not say he was unworthy to speak for the Lord, though this was also true. Instead he said he was unworthy to perform the very menial and humiliating service of unclasping the Lord’s shoe (sandal). He did not even say “I am ONLY worthy to untie His shoes”. He said “I am NOT WORTHY” even to stoop down and untie His shoe.

John’s attitude was, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). He was content to be a friend of the Bridegroom, and hear His voice. This was the fulfillment of his joy.  His purpose was to point others to the Saviour, and he did so willingly (1:36-37). His joy was to see others pointed away from himself to Christ, to be unnoticed so Christ could be preeminent. He did not seek the praise of men.

Yet at the close of his ministry, when he was imprisoned and out of public view, and Christ was now manifested, he received the commendation that was truly worth while: from Christ Himself. “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist…” (Matthew 11:11). Though John was out of the limelight, his task was complete. He had given Christ first place, and the Lord was pleased to place great honor upon this true and humble servant.

So in my life may I seek to give my Teacher and Lord the preeminence, and may those things that I say and do point others to the One who girded Himself with a towel to wash His disciples’ feet, yea, delighting in His Father’s will, and for the joy that was set before Him, took the lowest place on account of my sin, enduring the cross with piercéd feet, that I might walk in fellowship and harmony with Him and His Father.

This poem is deep. I heard it first, quoted, from Darlene Deibler Rose in a recording of her speaking about her experiences in Japanese labor camps. Powerful. I think I am afraid to enter into such depths, nor do I understand the meaning of such words, as she did…

A Peace that Cometh after Sorrow
Jessie Rose Gates
There is a peace that cometh after sorrow,
Of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled;
A peace that looketh not upon tomorrow,
But calmly on a tempest that it stilled.
A peace that lives not now in joy’s excesses,
Nor in the happy life of love secure;
But in the unerring strength the heart possesses,
Of conflicts won while learning to endure.
A peace there is, in sacrifice secluded,
A life subdued, from will and passion free;
Tis not the peace that over Eden brooded,
But that which triumphed in Gethsemane.