Putting Off ME...

Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU (the Father) FELL ON ME (the Son)."—Romans 15:2-3 AMPL

I don’t know about You, but I cannot do the “heart” of what is required in these verses without the Spirit of God’s moment by moment power.  Self-sacrificing love, charitableness, duty to others, sympathy, empathy, self-denial, unselfishness....these do not come naturally to me. I need to depend on my God constantly to put another’s good before mine.  Even when I get it right, sin always lies at my door and its desire is for me.  Only by the Spirit’s power can I rule over it. Even in marriage...even for someone I love as much as I love my husband, it is so difficult. Maybe even more so than for a “neighbor” because how he is and what he does affect ME greatly!  I want peace, I want comfort and very often choosing to walk in another’s shoes and actually feel their pain, grief fear or longing is hard.  

My heart’s default position is ME. It is hard to put off what I might want for my day...and put on, feel and make my priority what another wants.  It is hard to love others sacrificially because what I want for ME so often gets in my way!  Here is the thing, though.  What I notice as I draw increasingly close to my God and stand in the light of His grace, my sinfulness also comes to light and begins to overwhelm me. That might not seem like such a good thing, but it is, because it drives me to my God.  It helps me to really “see” my own weakness and need and cry out all the more for His grace and power in my life.  

but He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness." Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God's strength].—2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank my God through Jesus Christ, my Lord, who delivered and continues to deliver me from the scourge of ME, MYSELF and I.  Truly, I can cast all MY cares upon Him for He cares for ME!  He will perfect that which concerns ME.  He is my Shepherd. As His beloved daughter, He looks out for ME!  I can put off selfish ambition.  In Christ, I have everything I need. I can edify those I love by pointing them to Him...I can trust those I love into His care...I can trust ME into His care because He CARES for ME too!

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us,* to the glory of God.—Romans 15:5-7