The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 11 November 2018 "A Week of Summer" by Matthew Hammes (North Carolina)
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Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3 (NRSV))
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Just a few weeks into summer break, I saw the months ahead as full of the promise of fun and relaxation. I was ready to soak it all in. But my mom had a different plan. Without my consent, she signed me up to help children during a week-long Vacation Bible School. My first reaction was frustration and anger. I felt that my precious summer had been violated and my plans ruined — at least for a whole week. I argued for a while, but nothing changed.
When the week arrived, I woke up early and went to my church unhappy and full of dread. All I could think of was how I could have slept in much later, and all the other things I could be doing. But my attitude soon changed. From the moment I met the children, I realized that I was there for a greater purpose. As I saw them singing about God’s wonders and completing Bible activities, I knew that God was using me and my gifts to serve children on their faith journey.
Paul’s words in Philippians 2:1-7 helped me to see that if I had acted selfishly, I would not have made any positive impact on the Christian community. However, because I had carried out my assignment as a servant of God, I was able to influence the lives of the children around me. In turn, I could think of no better way to spend a week of my summer.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, help us to be grateful for our many blessings and gifts and to use them to help others. Amen.
Just a few weeks into summer break, I saw the months ahead as full of the promise of fun and relaxation. I was ready to soak it all in. But my mom had a different plan. Without my consent, she signed me up to help children during a week-long Vacation Bible School. My first reaction was frustration and anger. I felt that my precious summer had been violated and my plans ruined — at least for a whole week. I argued for a while, but nothing changed.
When the week arrived, I woke up early and went to my church unhappy and full of dread. All I could think of was how I could have slept in much later, and all the other things I could be doing. But my attitude soon changed. From the moment I met the children, I realized that I was there for a greater purpose. As I saw them singing about God’s wonders and completing Bible activities, I knew that God was using me and my gifts to serve children on their faith journey.
Paul’s words in Philippians 2:1-7 helped me to see that if I had acted selfishly, I would not have made any positive impact on the Christian community. However, because I had carried out my assignment as a servant of God, I was able to influence the lives of the children around me. In turn, I could think of no better way to spend a week of my summer.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, help us to be grateful for our many blessings and gifts and to use them to help others. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Philippians 2:1-7
Philippians 2:1 Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, 2 then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — 4 look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own.
5 Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua:
6 Though he was in the form of God,
he did not regard equality with God
something to be possessed by force.
7 On the contrary, he emptied himself,
in that he took the form of a slave
by becoming like human beings are.And when he appeared as a human being, (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I will use what God has given me to serve others.
PRAYER FOCUS: For opportunities to help others
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