Living Selflessly: Embracing Jesus's Example of Love
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound call to live a life modeled after Jesus Christ, who, despite being in very nature God, chose not to exploit His divine status for personal gain. Instead, He emptied Himself, prioritizing the well-being of others above His own. This call challenges us to abandon selfish ambition and vain conceit, urging us to value others above ourselves in every interaction. The irony lies in how often we, as followers of Jesus, fail to embody this inclusive and selfless love, instead becoming exclusive and prideful.
C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters" offers a poignant illustration of this struggle. The young Christian, drawn into a circle of spiritually mature individuals, is tempted to believe he belongs there by merit rather than grace. This temptation to feel entitled to love and acceptance, rather than recognizing them as gifts of grace, is a common pitfall in the spiritual journey. It leads to a subtle self-congratulation that blinds us to the true source of our blessings.
Jesus, the great includer, constantly broke down barriers, embracing those society deemed unworthy. His life was a testament to the belief that everyone is worthy of love and acceptance. Yet, we often fall into the trap of creating in-groups and out-groups, favoring those who are like us and discriminating against those who are not. This behavior contradicts the very essence of Jesus's teachings.
The distinction between professing a belief and truly living it is crucial. To profess is to claim belief, but to truly believe is to act as though it is true. This is evident in how we handle our resources, relationships, and daily interactions. A genuine belief in the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive is reflected in our willingness to act generously, even when it requires personal sacrifice.
Ultimately, the challenge is to align our mental map with Jesus's, living out His teachings in practical, everyday ways. This involves a constant examination of our hearts and minds, asking God to reveal where we fall short and to guide us in valuing others above ourselves.
Key Takeaways:
- Emulating Jesus means prioritizing others' well-being over our own, challenging us to abandon selfish ambition and embrace selflessness in all relationships. [00:42]
- The temptation to feel entitled to love and acceptance, rather than recognizing them as gifts of grace, can lead to spiritual pride and exclusivity. [03:22]
- Jesus's life exemplified radical inclusion, breaking down societal barriers and embracing those deemed unworthy, challenging us to do the same. [07:29]
- The difference between professing a belief and truly living it is crucial; genuine belief is reflected in our actions and willingness to sacrifice for others. [08:36]
- Aligning our mental map with Jesus's teachings requires constant self-examination and a commitment to act on our beliefs, valuing others above ourselves. [10:27]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - The Call to Selflessness
- [00:57] - Jesus's Example of Humility
- [01:48] - The Irony of Christian Exclusivity
- [02:30] - C.S. Lewis and Spiritual Temptation
- [03:22] - Entitlement vs. Grace
- [05:43] - Jesus, the Great Includer
- [06:09] - The Robbers Cave Experiment
- [07:29] - Breaking Down Barriers
- [08:23] - Professing vs. Believing
- [09:29] - Worldview vs. Mental Map
- [10:39] - A Friend's Generosity
- [11:02] - Living Out Our Beliefs
- [11:15] - A Daily Challenge
- [11:43] - Closing Thoughts
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Philippians 2:3-8
- Acts 20:35
- Matthew 5:43-48
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Observation Questions:
1. In Philippians 2:3-8, what specific actions did Jesus take to demonstrate humility and selflessness? How does this align with the sermon’s call to prioritize others' well-being over our own? [00:42]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the irony of Christian exclusivity, despite Jesus being the great includer? What examples from Jesus's life support this claim? [07:29]
3. According to Acts 20:35, what is the significance of the statement "It is more blessed to give than to receive"? How does this principle challenge our daily interactions and resource management? [08:36]
4. How does the sermon use C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters" to highlight the temptation of feeling entitled to love and acceptance? What is the danger of this mindset? [03:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to truly believe in the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive, as opposed to merely professing it? How can this belief be reflected in one's actions? [08:36]
2. How does the concept of Jesus as the great includer challenge the way Christians often create in-groups and out-groups? What societal barriers did Jesus break down, and how can this be applied today? [07:29]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that spiritual pride can develop from a sense of entitlement to grace and acceptance? How can this be avoided in one's spiritual journey? [03:22]
4. How does the sermon differentiate between having a Christian worldview and living out Jesus's mental map? What are the implications of this distinction for a believer's daily life? [10:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you prioritized your own interests over someone else's. How could you have approached the situation differently to align with Jesus's example of humility? [00:42]
2. Identify a group or individual you tend to exclude or judge. What steps can you take to break down barriers and practice radical inclusion, as Jesus did? [07:29]
3. Consider a time when you felt entitled to love or acceptance. How can you shift your perspective to see these as gifts of grace rather than something earned? [03:22]
4. Examine your financial habits. Are there areas where you can practice more generosity, reflecting the belief that it is more blessed to give than to receive? What specific changes can you make this week? [08:36]
5. Think about your mental map versus your professed beliefs. Are there areas where your actions do not align with your stated beliefs? How can you work towards greater alignment? [10:27]
6. Identify a person in your life who challenges your patience or kindness. What practical steps can you take to value them above yourself in your next interaction? [11:15]
7. How can you incorporate regular self-examination into your spiritual practice to ensure you are living out Jesus's teachings in practical ways? What tools or habits might help in this process? [11:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing Others' Well-being Over Our Own
Emulating Jesus means prioritizing others' well-being over our own, challenging us to abandon selfish ambition and embrace selflessness in all relationships. Jesus, despite being in very nature God, chose not to exploit His divine status for personal gain. Instead, He emptied Himself, prioritizing the well-being of others above His own. This call challenges us to abandon selfish ambition and vain conceit, urging us to value others above ourselves in every interaction. The irony lies in how often we, as followers of Jesus, fail to embody this inclusive and selfless love, instead becoming exclusive and prideful. [00:42]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you often prioritize your own needs. How can you intentionally put the other person's needs first today?
Day 2: Recognizing Love and Acceptance as Gifts of Grace
The temptation to feel entitled to love and acceptance, rather than recognizing them as gifts of grace, can lead to spiritual pride and exclusivity. C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters" offers a poignant illustration of this struggle. The young Christian, drawn into a circle of spiritually mature individuals, is tempted to believe he belongs there by merit rather than grace. This temptation to feel entitled to love and acceptance, rather than recognizing them as gifts of grace, is a common pitfall in the spiritual journey. It leads to a subtle self-congratulation that blinds us to the true source of our blessings. [03:22]
"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt entitled to something. How can you shift your perspective to see it as a gift of grace instead?
Day 3: Embracing Radical Inclusion
Jesus's life exemplified radical inclusion, breaking down societal barriers and embracing those deemed unworthy, challenging us to do the same. Jesus, the great includer, constantly broke down barriers, embracing those society deemed unworthy. His life was a testament to the belief that everyone is worthy of love and acceptance. Yet, we often fall into the trap of creating in-groups and out-groups, favoring those who are like us and discriminating against those who are not. This behavior contradicts the very essence of Jesus's teachings. [07:29]
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
Reflection: Identify someone you have excluded or judged unfairly. What step can you take today to include and embrace them as Jesus would?
Day 4: Living Out Genuine Belief
The difference between professing a belief and truly living it is crucial; genuine belief is reflected in our actions and willingness to sacrifice for others. The distinction between professing a belief and truly living it is crucial. To profess is to claim belief, but to truly believe is to act as though it is true. This is evident in how we handle our resources, relationships, and daily interactions. A genuine belief in the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive is reflected in our willingness to act generously, even when it requires personal sacrifice. [08:36]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area where your actions don't align with your professed beliefs. What practical step can you take today to live out your faith more authentically?
Day 5: Aligning Our Mental Map with Jesus's Teachings
Aligning our mental map with Jesus's teachings requires constant self-examination and a commitment to act on our beliefs, valuing others above ourselves. Ultimately, the challenge is to align our mental map with Jesus's, living out His teachings in practical, everyday ways. This involves a constant examination of our hearts and minds, asking God to reveal where we fall short and to guide us in valuing others above ourselves. [10:27]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal areas where your mindset doesn't align with Jesus's teachings. What is one change you can make today to better align with His example?
Quotes
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in everything, value others above yourself. Let each of you look not to your own interest, not to your own agenda, but to the interests of others. In all your relationships, let your mindset, your attitude, your posture, your orientation towards life and towards people be like that of Christ Jesus." [00:18:43]
"Many of us who claim to believe in Jesus, to believe that he was in very nature God, that he was divine and became human and emptied himself, find ourselves not actually living the way that Jesus lived. And in fact, although he was the most inclusive of people, his followers, you and me if that's us, often become quite exclusive and shut people out." [00:13:40]
"There's a difference between my worldview, which is something I profess, and my mental map about how things are. The Pharisees had a great worldview. The Pharisees believed deeply in moral absolutes, but they did not have Jesus' mental map about the way things are." [00:56:32]
"Jesus, he's the great includer. Part of what got him into big trouble was that he would include Samaritans, that he would include lepers, people that were considered unclean, that he would have fellowship with tax collectors and sinners, that he would have spiritual conversations with prostitutes." [00:49:28]
"To profess something is to claim to believe it's true. Maybe even I think I believe it's true because in the moment I feel quite certain of it. To believe something is to be ready to act as though it were true." [00:50:03]
"Following Jesus becomes impossibly, paradoxically a source of spiritual pride. Now part of what got Jesus in big trouble was that he was the great includer. From the very beginning of sin, fallenness, one of the oldest ways, maybe the most fundamental way that we in our fallen, broken nature out of ego divide people up is into my group and the other group." [00:36:57]
"Ask not just what do I profess but what am I prepared to act as though it's true. God revealed to me the condition of my own heart and mind today. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but value other people, everybody that I meet." [00:11:08]
"Reason is always on the side of God and of faith. What you want is to keep a sly self-congratulation mixing with all his thoughts and never allow him to raise the question, what precisely am I congratulating myself about?" [00:52:31]
"Jesus came to bring us not just a professed worldview, but a lived out mental map. I think about a very good friend of mine who is trying to figure out do I want to keep on in my job. I don't really have to. I could retire at this point." [00:56:23]
"Success here, Uncle Screwtape writes, depends on confusing him. And we've seen this notion in the Screwtape Letters all the time that reason is always on the side of God and of faith. What you want is to keep a sly self-congratulation mixing with all his thoughts." [00:51:31]
"Jesus was constantly breaking down barriers. To Jesus, it's like there was no my group and their group. It was like everybody is in my group, everybody I love, and anybody who will be a part of me, who will follow me, who will open themselves up to me, I see their beauty and their worth." [00:46:71]
"To believe something is to be ready to act as though it were true. So for example, in the Bible, it says it is more blessed to give than to receive. Now I might profess that I might say yes, I believe the Bible, I think that I do, and therefore I must believe that statement." [00:51:17]
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