Living Free - Oct. 15, 2013

Living Free Every Day®

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:10 NIV

Thoughts for Today

Family love means we are to honor one another. We are to treat our brothers and sisters with respect and never think we are better than they are. We are to put the needs of other people before our own. We are to live with a servant's heart.

Jesus gave us such a beautiful example of honoring others when he washed the feet of the disciples. God the Son humbled himself by kneeling down and washing the feet of those he was teaching. The magnitude of that act of humility is beyond our comprehension. He tells us to follow his example: "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet" (John 13:14 NIV). Jesus calls us to have a servant's heart.

Honoring others can have many faces. Reaching out to do practical acts of service to help others--even when the task is unpleasant or inconvenient. Submitting to someone else's idea and helping pursue it even when we think our idea is better. Respecting other people's opinions even when they differ from ours. Staying in the background and allowing others to be credited for a job well done.

Consider this …

God has a plan for each believer. And as believers around the world carry out those plans, his will can be accomplished. Instead of competing with other believers or ministries, we are called to honor and support them. Instead of envying other people's gifts and talents, we are called to encourage them.

As we learn to honor one another with love, we will show this competitive world that Jesus does make a difference. As we honor one another, we will accomplish more for the kingdom. And, most important, as we honor one another, we will please our Lord. .

Prayer

Father, help me remember to honor my brothers and sisters. To respect them and their ideas. To serve them with humility. In Jesus' name . . .

 These thoughts were drawn from …

Insight Group: Discover the Path to Christian Character by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. With its emphasis on developing Christian character it is a powerful group for those who want to be sure to prevent life-controlling problems from developing in their lives, as well as for those who need to overcome a current problem.

• It enhances people's understanding of themselves and others.
• It helps people bond together in meaningful relationships.
• It helps prepare people for more meaningful relationships in subsequent small groups like home groups and Sunday school classes.
• It surfaces people for help who may otherwise never seek help.
• It helps break down the segregation of people in churches, turning "those people" and "our kind of people" into just "us."
• It helps prepare people to minister to others.
• It serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by ministering to people's felt needs and then pointing them to Christ.

 Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.