Paul wrote, ‘Consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought’ (v.3-5 CEV). That kind of thinking doesn’t always come easily to us, but Jesus showed us how to do it. Hanging on the cross, He took time for the condemned criminal hanging next to Him (see Luke 23:39-43).

As Stephen was being stoned, he prayed for those who were killing him, asking God not to lay the sin at their door (see Acts 7:60). Paul and Silas were beaten and wrongly imprisoned, but that didn't stop them taking time to minister to their jailer. Even after God sent a powerful earthquake that broke their chains and opened their prison doors, they stayed to minister to their captor. It must have been so tempting to escape while the opportunity was there. It would have been easy to look out for themselves and not worry about anybody else. But their act of love moved the jailer to ask how he could be saved, with the result that he and his entire family accepted Christ (see Acts 16:25-34).

In a world whose philosophy is often ‘look out for number one’, we need God’s help every day to overcome feelings of selfishness. And when we do, other people will notice that we're different, and they'll want to know why. Just think how many of your friends and loved ones could come to know God if you refused to judge, unfairly criticise, or ignore them, and instead, consistently showed that you genuinely love them! ‘Consider others more important than yourselves', and be ready to have conversations about the One who makes us different.

What Now?

How many random acts of kindness can you do today?