Sacrifice the self

Are you strong in the Lord? Do you not need the fellowship of others? Are you able to live for Christ, alone? If you're so strong, why do you not fellowship with the weak? Do you really believe your strength is your own, for yourself alone? Is not your strength for the Body...so that the Body might be edified by your strength? Did the Lord really give you a gift to squander by yourself on yourself?

Are you weak in the Lord? Do you really think you will grow strong outside of the fellowship of believers? Will not the strong believers care for you and edify you that you might grow strong in the Lord? Are you not part of the Body of our Lord, and doesn't He desire that all of His might grow in His strength? Are you not to be a blessing to your brothers and sisters by learning to walk mightily in Christ?

O strong man! Where is your service? Where is your care? Do not consider yourself so important, for you are not that important! If you really have strong faith, prove it by your works - not of flesh, but of faith. Show me through your love for others and their state that you are strong.

O weakling! Where is your faith? Is not our Lord your strength as well? Do not consider yourself so insignificant. The Body needs you to grow so that the whole Body might be strong. Our Lord calls you to bear fruit...you must not remain a sapling or you will die. Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but our Lord came so that you might have life and have it to the full! So drink deeply from His love and feast upon His life, for you shall grow strong in order to honor our King.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE! QUIT HONORING YOURSELF AND GO TO THE CROSS AND MEET CHRIST THERE...


Philippians 2

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.