– Scripture:

                             He Took on the Status of a Slave

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care, then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front, don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

                            Philippians 2:1–4 MSG

Key Verse – Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.

 – Reflection:

We don’t hear the word “esteem” very much today, but the Scripture tells us to esteem one another. To esteem means “to hold in high regard, to honor and value,” even if you don’t always agree with them. Sometimes people think, “That person doesn’t act honorably, so why should I honor them?” But the truth is, we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of God. We all have people that we have had this association for, but as the WORD states, and I am placing here in this prayer, once read, you cannot deny it anymore. You know that people should be respected and regarded very well.

Where do we go from here?

If I am wearing my Apple watch, which is very valuable to me, I wouldn’t wear it to the gym or leave it at the office out in the open. No, I would keep it safe and carefully tucked away under something else, probably leaving it at home. I would put it in a safe place and protect it. I feel the same way about people. When we see others as valuable the way God sees them, we treat them carefully. We speak respectfully. We look for the good in others and honor them for who God made them to be. Choose to esteem “lift one another up” and delight in one another. Plant good seeds into your relationships even the bad ones and see a harvest of blessings in every area of your life.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the people You have brought into our lives. Thank You that every one of them is created in Your image and of high value. Help us to lift people up and love them like You do through our actions and my words. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.