‎1 Corinthians 10:24 NASB
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

Personal Challenge…
Here comes that age old question, “Who is my neighbor?” Well, that was answered two thousand years ago…anyone, everyone, those you love, those who are your enemies, those who think and act the same way that you do, those who don’t, those who worship God the same way that you do, those who don’t.

But then we ask, “What does it mean to seek their good?” It does not just mean being nice to them, but it means to love them, to put them and their needs before my own. It means not only avoiding calling them names or avoiding them altogether, but going out of your way to be the image of Christ to them. It means eliminating hurtful, cutting, snide, derogatory, insulting, cynical, sarcastic vocabulary from our language and speaking the truth in gentle, kind, loving ways.

Acts 5:40-42 NIV
His (Gamaliel) speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Personal Challenge…
Having grown up in the United States and in the church here I have never been really persecuted for my beliefs. I read of the apostles and the early fathers of the church and see how in the midst of vicious and life-taking persecution they receive the persecution joyfully and then go right back to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ knowing full well that they will be persecuted again. It makes me wonder…how will we as modern day Christians respond today to this kind of persecution. Are we (am I) able to separate our life in Christ from our politics, our worldly passions, our safe institutions and stand for Him alone?

Luke 6:41-42 NIV (Jesus speaking)
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Personal Challenge…
Oh how often I need to be reminded that it is my responsibility to take care of and discipline myself. When I forget this I start looking at those around me and start trying to take care of them and discipline them. That, howeever, is not my job or my responsibility.

Psalm 37:23-24 NLT
The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

Words of Encouragement…
It is so empowering to know that I am not on this journey of life alone.

James 2:1-4 NASB
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Personal Challenge…
This passage reminds me that I must hold onto my faith in Jesus Christ as a gift from God. It is not for me to judge those around me whom have also been given this gift yet express it in ways different than me. I must be careful to not act as if my expression of this faith is the only right and true way and therefore treat my fellow brothers and sisters as inferior (unsaved) because they do not have my vocabulary or expressions of faith. It is God’s responsibility to judge the hearts of His children. It is my responsibility to humble myself before Him and be His vessel used by Him and for Him.

‎2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Personal Challenge…
I must always remember that life is not about me or my desires anymore. As an ambassador I may be the only image that those around me have of those whom I am representing (God and His kingdom). It is through my living testimony that these people can have a glimpse into the glory of God and the salvation He provides through Jesus. What a powerful reminder to always be showing God’s love to my “neighbor”.

Luke 1:50 NIV
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Words of Encouragement…
It is so wonderful, so freeing, to know that we serve a merciful God.

Psalm 40:4-5 NLT
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols. O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Job 1:21 NASB
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

‎1 John 3:18 NIV
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Personal Challenge…
It is so easy to talk about loving others, whether it be our family and dear ones, strangers, or even our enemies. It is an entirely different thing to love them with our actions. It is even more of a challenge to love them in truth, to truly love them and not do it because I think it makes me look good in God’s (and everyone around us) eyes. This is not an option if I profess that I am a child of God, it is a command.