A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 22). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
I know, I know, we want so much to make a difference but not so much to be different. But to be different is the way to make a difference and it is what God wants us to do.
Craig says, “If someone does something remotely wrong, I’m quick to point the finger, but if I do something wrong, I’m quick to justify. While I judge someone else by their actions, I judge myself by my intentions. That’s wrong.
“Paul said in Philippians 2:5 that my ‘attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ And just what is that attitude? ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others’ (vv. 3–4). Notice that this passage tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition—nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada.”
And for most of us that would be a major change, that would make a major difference, wouldn’t it?
He goes on, “Yet, most of what I do is motivated by selfish ambition. What am I gonna get out of this? What’s in it for me? Will it be fun? Will I gain something? If not, count me out.
“God raises the bar: I should put the interests of others ahead of my own. Easier said than done. God, change my attitude about others.”
Look at what 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves? Do you realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Don’t you think a good place to start would be to examine and then change our attitudes toward others?
Yes, yes!
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