Considering Others First
Other people. It’s a funny thing how most of us respond to other people. Our reactions usually take our feelings, circumstances and situation into account before the person we are interacting. I do this a lot and feel confident a lot, if not most, of you do this as well. The way I react to others determines wether that moment will be loving, angry, fearful or beautiful. There are a wide range of other subtleties that could come into play, however, most of them could be boiled down to fear or guilt. Fear we will “miss out” on something (losing our place in the traffic line, someone getting into the building before us, someone crossing the finish line ahead of us). Guilt that we are either not good enough or better than. Guilt of the past and fear of the future kept me drunk, and away from God, for 25+ years and placed “my feelings” way ahead of yours.
I finally learned that I didn’t have to live this way. When I learned that by simply putting others first life looks a lot different, situations look a lot different and my marriage could actually improve. Letting go and letting God changes lives, changes hearts and allows us to step a lot lighter on our feet. This whole business of guilt and fear, for me, comes down being happy or right. Would I rather be happy (in love with God and guilt free) or right (holding onto my fear instead give it to God).
Ephesians 5 NKJV
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
