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Living For Others, June 20
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
.
We are not to live for ourselves. Christ came to this world to live for others—
not to be ministered unto, but to minister. If you strive to live as He lived you are
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saying to the world, “Behold the Man of Calvary.” By precept and example you
are leading others in the way of righteousness.
The sin which is indulged to the greatest extent, and which separates us from
God and produces so many contagious spiritual disorders, is selfishness. There
can be no returning to the Lord except by self-denial. Of ourselves we can do
nothing; but through God strengthening us we can live to do good to others, and in
this way shun the evil of selfishness. We need not go to heathen lands to manifest
our desire to devote all to God in a useful, unselfish life. We should do this in the
home circle, in the church, among those with whom we associate and with whom
we do business. Right in the common walks of life is where self is to be denied
and kept in subordination.
Paul could say: “I die daily” (
1 Corinthians 15:31
). It is the daily dying to
self in the little transactions of life that makes us overcomers. We should forget
self in the desire to do good to others. With many there is a decided lack of love
for others. Instead of faithfully performing their duty, they seek rather their own
pleasure.
God positively enjoins upon all His followers a duty to bless others with
their influence and means.... In doing for others, a sweet satisfaction will be
experienced, an inward peace which will be a sufficient reward. When actuated
by a high and noble desire to do others good, they will find true happiness in a
faithful discharge of life’s manifold duties. This will bring more than an earthly
reward; for every faithful, unselfish performance of duty is noticed by the angels
and shines in the life record. In heaven none will think of self, nor seek their own
pleasure; but all, from pure, genuine love, will seek the happiness of the heavenly
beings around them. If we wish to enjoy heavenly society in the earth made new,
we must be governed by heavenly principles here.
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