“Livin’ Large is experiencing the new life we have in Christ. It is living the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit and it is practicing (Ephesians 4-6) our position (Ephesians 1-3).”
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This exhortation hits hard at our selfish sense of entitlement. Every one of us knows our own propensity to look out for number one. Woven into our fallen DNA is an ego-driven need to assert, fulfill and satisfy self. That is why the way of Jesus is counter-cultural; Jesus said if we would be His followers we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Denial of self is hard stuff. If wrongly understood and practiced it easily deteriorates into prideful legalism. The only way to be selfless is to abandon ourselves to Jesus Christ and to experience the new birth and to receive a new nature. Now, as new people in Christ and empowered with the Holy Spirit, we can live a new life of selfless service. The command of Philippians 2:3-4 can only be obeyed with the resources of the crucified, resurrected and indwelling Christ. As new people with a new nature, all the more we should live a new life! The life Christ calls us to is one of sacrifice and service for others. It is one of humility and other-centered focus. It is one of intentional ministry seeking to give away to others what Christ has given to us.
Take a moment to reaffirm your commitment to Christ. Review and acknowledge your blessings and calling in Christ. Re-up your intention to serve Christ and serve others. Ask God to show you today’s opportunities to look out for the interests of others. Pray for the people in your network of relationships and ask God to use you to be a blessing to them. Remember, anyone can be self-centered, it’s just natural to our humanity; as Christ-followers we have been called to something more. Livin’ Large means we live as servants.