Are We Living Life Without Self-Focus?
- Are we satisfied when someone learns about Christ?
- Do we find “JOY” in knowing others have come into the family of God?
- How crowded do we desire heaven to be for all eternity?
Once an atheist, now a Christian, C. S. Lewis once wrote these words—
“Put first things first and get second things thrown in;
Put second things first and lose first and second things.
We never get, say, even the sensual pleasure of food at its best when we are being greedy.”
There is a melody “Center Stage” by Sean BE that contains this lyric:
“May Your way; take center stage!”
- Your—that means God
- Your—that mean our Father
- Center Stage—the place of importance
- Center Stage—the place of honor
For years, I was the coordinator of a wonderful internal institution (Link Crew) that allowed high school seniors to mentor incoming freshmen students. The students were given opportunities to lead, to tutor, to guide, to encourage, and to serve their school population. The seniors became leaders as they served, and the freshmen became part of a community rather than singletons within the world of “high school.”
Within the training program for the incoming Link Leaders, the seniors participated in sessions of learning activities. One such lesson that encompassed several lessons was the impact of becoming “center” of the circle. We would stand in a circle, all of us (me too), engaging within an activity, then at the appropriate time, one member of the outside circle would become the “middle person,” the one we focused upon, the one we cheered, the one we honored, the one we wanted to be.
Did we catch that last line?
Center Stage—the middle person—the place of honor: It all focused upon the ONE!
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,
(Philippians 2: 1 NASB)
If any consolation of love,
If any fellowship of the Spirit,
If any affection and compassion,”
Transitional words are useful, necessary words, that when chosen with care, can lead and draw upon the preceding sentences, tying them to the sentences that are to come—putting all things together for a definite purpose. Take for example the word: Therefore.
There—for—a—reason!
The reason that it is “there for” is found in what came first, prior to the “therefore.” In order to see what the Apostle Paul was saying in his letter to the group of believers living in Philippi, we must look at the verses that come before the word: “Therefore.”
“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer
(Philippians 1: 29-30 & 2: 1-4 NASB)
on His behalf,
experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, [in Paul] and now hear to be in me. [again, in Paul]
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,
If any consolation of love,
If any fellowship of the Spirit,
If any affection and compassion,
make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love,
united in spirit,
intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others.”
“for Christ’s sake”
“on His behalf,”
Our “JOY” is complete—only when we do—focus upon JESUS!
- In spite of our circumstances.
- Even when we are caught in the midst of suffering.
- Or during our seasons of feeling all alone.
May we always remember: We Have Received “JOY”—Complete Because of HIM—JESUS CHRIST!
Center Stage—the middle person—the place of honor: It all focused upon the ONE!
- The “middle person.”
- The one we focused upon.
- The one we cheered.
- The one we honored.
- The one we wanted to be.
The Bible says we are to strive to become “like Jesus,” the ONE who deserves our 100% focus!
Therefore—
- We do not just eat to just eat.
Rather, we eat for nourishment so that our bodies are of service to God.
- We do not exercise just to exercise.
Rather we exercise to build strong, healthy bodies that can do God’s will.
- We do not read our Bible just to check it off the to-do list.
Rather we read God’s Word to learn how to BE more like JESUS, to know GOD’S plan.
- We do not work just to earn money.
Rather we work to offer back to God an offering of the first-fruits of our labor.
- We do not love just to be loved.
Rather we love others like Jesus commands: Loving God first & Loving others second.
J—Jesus First
O—Others Second
Y—Yourself & Myself Last
“for Christ’s sake” & “on His behalf,”
Our “JOY” is complete—only when we do—focus upon JESUS!
Truly, C.S. Lewis knew what was key to our “JOY” when he wrote:
“Put first things first and get second thing thrown in; put second things first and lose first and second things.”
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
(Philippians 2: 5-8 NASB)
who, as He already existed in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.”
Placing God above Everything—That is our ultimate goal.
We come to Christ, just as we are: broken sinners.
- Jesus gives us Himself (every day)
- Jesus provides for our needs (every day)
- Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us (never)
- Jesus will be with us “always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20b NASB)
Jesus Promised!
When our life here is finished, just as He said He would, Jesus will carry us home to eternity in the presence of God our Father!
It is the Truthful, Faithful, Promise of God!
- Are we Living Life Without Self-Focus?
- Are we satisfied when someone learns about Christ?
- Do we find “JOY” in knowing others have come into the family of God?
- How crowded do we really desire heaven to be for all eternity?
“For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him
(Philippians 2: 9-11 NASB)
the name which is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”