Mentoring Minutes

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves.” Paul  (Philippians 2:3)

Love and Lordship in Focus…How can we as selfish human beings be humble and place others above ourselves? Only in Christ and by His Spirit.

Last week’s “one another” called us to “submit to one another out of reverence or honor for Christ.” You want to know where this begins?

Philippians 2:3 gives us the example of Christ and tells us to do the same thing, “…In humility consider others better than yourselves.” Another command that shows us that the essence of Godly Love in and through us in Christ is to place others above ourselves. We can’t truly do this if we don’t know and love who we are in Christ.

A famous pastor and author tweeted a few years back, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is not thinking of yourself at all.” This is another one of those “pastorisms” that sounds great and may motivate us to act in the flesh but it’s not truthful according to God’s Word. Romans 12:3 clearly states what Humility looks like, “Do not think of yourself more highly that you should but do think of yourself with sober (clear) judgment according to the measure of faith God has given you.”

Humility is being confident and content in who you are in Christ (measure of faith) so that you can willingly submit and lift others above yourself. See John 13:3 for Jesus modeling of this humility that is spoken of in Philippians 2:3-5. You can only do this consistently in Christ as your flesh will always rise up to the comparisons, ratings and rankings that the world uses to feed your pride and destroy your life and relationships.

Let’s first submit to Christ and then to one another as we humble ourselves and truly choose to consider others better than ourselves because we know who we are in Christ.

Would you like to know more about Christ and who you are or can be in Him?

Food for Thought…Whenever we are in our flesh we experience humiliation…when we are walking in Christ and His Spirit we practice humility. Imagine what your relationships would look like if you were walking in Christ-like humility?

Love in Action –

1. Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. What comes to mind when you hear the words “humility” or “humiliation?”
4. What is your experience when it comes to humiliation and humility? Have you figured out the difference in order to be like Christ?

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, I can’t do real humility in my own flesh and strength for sin will ensure that pride will get in the way and cause problems. Thank You for making me new in Christ and the power of The Holy Spirit so I can know who I am in Him and humbly submit and lift others above myself. May You encourage others through me to do this more and more in marriages, families and Your Church in Christ! In His Name. Amen.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Paul  (Ephesians 5:21)

Love and Lordship in Focus…Notice that the foundation of loving relationships doesn’t begin with wives respect or husbands love…it begins with submit to one another like we’ve already learned to do, and are doing, to The Lord! How are you doing in your relationships…first with The Lord and then with others?

I love how God, in His Word, makes it so clear how we are to love “one another” in all the different ways, both in what we are to do and to avoid! This command today may be my favorite because I believe it lays the foundation for all truly loving relationships within The Body of Christ. Beyond that the next several verses in this text focus on marriage and family as the highest of human relationships and gives the reasons for it.

However this may also be the most difficult of all the “one another” commands?!?

This “one another” is found in Ephesians 5:21 and simply, yet profoundly states, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This lays the foundation for every other good relationship follows Christ’s teaching when it comes to love and submission. We must begin with our love, humility and reverence for The Lord (the First and Greatest Command) and then out of the overflow of His love in us and our love for Him, we choose to humbly submit to one another as we’ve already learned to submit to and honor (revere) Him as Lord.

This “one another” governs all other relationships from personal and intimate in marriage, to parenting, family, church and government, including even how we relate in the workplace (see Ephesians 5:22-6:9)

So when you’re struggling in your relationships (marriage, parenting, family, friends, etc.), do you stop and consider whether or not you’re first submitting to and honoring Christ? If you’re not I promise you your lack of love, humility and honor will show up with all others…and usually it begins with those closest to you…spouse, children and family.

Let’s practice submitting first to The Lord so we can better learn to humbly submit and love one another in the same way.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is the key to all good and loving relationships. Let’s commit to doing this in our walk with Him, in our marriages and families and in His Church so the world can see His Love. If we don’t truly honor and love God we will never really love and honor others. It is only from our true reverence and honor of Him that we ultimately love and honor one another!

Food for Thought…Do you submit your life in relationship to Christ in humility and out of honor for Him as Your Lord? If so, then you are likely growing in doing the same with others. If not, then you are probably struggling in all other relationships.

Love in Action –

1. Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. What comes to mind when you hear the words “submit” or “submission?”
4. How is the way you respond and react to the concept of submission working in your relationship with God and with others?

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, forgive me when I try to love out of the emptiness and dryness of my own flesh and sinful soul. Help me to come to You and learn to love you with all I am by submitting in humble honor of You. I ask that you then let me learn to submit to and humbly love others as I am learning and growing in doing so with You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

“…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;” Paul  (Ephesians 5:19)

Love and Lordship in Focus…What I share with others in speech, songs, actions and in building relationships is a direct product of what I fill my heart and mind with. What are you sharing with and speaking to others?

This “one another” is one that many, if not most, find a bit odd… at least to carry out. It is found in Ephesians 5:19, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”

I grew up in a singing family and early on loved to sing in churches, hit my middle school years and decided singing was not “cool.” As I matured I realized that singing and songs, hymns and psalms are such a blessing.

Now whether you choose to simply sing in the shower, in the car (and make people wonder), in the choir, a group or just along with others at church…remember another great command of Scripture…”Make a joyful noise unto The Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 100:1.

Don’t discount the value, beauty and the peace that comes with the singing of songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Someone has said that “music is the language of heaven.”

Now I don’t know about all music and I surely know that some music is not the language of heaven. However, there is an incredible amount of beautiful hymns, gospel songs, contemporary Christian songs and psalms that give praise and thanks to God, encourage, challenge and bless us and fill us with His Presence.

Why do we at times find it difficult to follow through on this command?

After all, what you fill your mind and heart with is what you become. What better to fill it with than songs, hymns and spiritual songs?

Food for Thought…How do you respond, react and relate to others? What do you fill your mind and your mouth with? There is a connection so be careful to fill up with what is good in God’s Word, with spiritually uplifting songs…and share that with others as you speak with, sing to and relate to them! Christ is glorified when we do and others have the opportunity to know and/or grow in Him!

Love in Action –

1. Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
3. How is what you’re filling up your mind with impacting your relationships?
4. What needs to change today to be sure you’re responding and relating to others in the love of God in Christ?

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful beauty and message in songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Help me to sing them to You and as given the opportunity, join in and sing with or share with others to lift You up and to lift each other up. May it carry over from my mind and heart into my speaking to others in love. In Jesus Name. Amen.