Selfishness and selflessness

I am led to do a study and teaching on selfishness and selflessness. Selfishness is doing what is pleasing to really only oneself, doing what is right in one’s on eyes, without any regard or care as to what it might cost or that it may or may not grieve, harm, and hurt other people. Selflessness is the opposite, always putting others first in what they do. Our flesh is wholly selfish and does not care for anyone or anything other than to please its own lusts. The spirit, is totally opposite and puts others first always, no matter what it might cost.

This verse is a good definition of selfishness

(Php 2:21)  For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

There has always been selfishness around, since long ago an example of which is in the judges, and this verse appears twice for added emphasis:

Judges 17:6  In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges_21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Perhaps the ultimate extreme of selfishness is found in Genesis 6:

(Genesis 6:5)  The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

(Genesis 6:6)  And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

(Genesis 6:7)  So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."

That was at the time of Noah, where I feel people may have been supremely selfish, but I fear that today we are falling faster and faster to those days, as Jesus said would happen in His end times prophetic chapters(Matthew 24 for example).  This was also prophesied in 2 Timothy 3 which accurately describes how people are today:

(2 Timothy 3:1)  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

(2 Timothy 3:2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

(2 Timothy 3:3)  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

(2 Timothy 3:4)  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

(2 Timothy 3:5)  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

(2 Timothy 3:6)  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,

(2 Timothy 3:7)  always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

(2 Timothy 3:8)  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

(2 Timothy 3:9)  But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

The passage in scripture from Romans chapter 1 into Romans chapter 2 often describes what can happen to one who does selfish things and other evil acts if they aren’t careful and do not repent of them.

(Romans 1:18)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

(Romans 1:19)  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

(Romans 1:20)  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

(Romans 1:21)  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

(Romans 1:22)  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

(Romans 1:23)  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

(Romans 1:24)  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

(Romans 1:25)  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

(Romans 1:26)  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

(Romans 1:27)  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

(Romans 1:28)  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

(Romans 1:29)  They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

(Romans 1:30)  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

(Romans 1:31)  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(Romans 1:32)  Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

(Romans 2:1)  Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

(Romans 2:2)  We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

(Romans 2:3)  Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?

(Romans 2:4)  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

(Romans 2:5)  But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

(Romans 2:6)  He will render to each one according to his works:

(Romans 2:7)  to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

(Romans 2:8)  but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

(Romans 2:9)  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

(Romans 2:10)  but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

(Romans 2:11)  For God shows no partiality.

Strong warning against selfishness but often selfish people often find it very easy to fall into other immoralities, because they only seek pleasures for their own person regardless of the consequences for others . It says in 2 Corinthians 5 that Christ died not for us to be selfish but for Jesus, as we are new creations in Him:

(2 Corinthians 5:13)  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

(2 Corinthians 5:14)  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

(2 Corinthians 5:15)  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

(2 Corinthians 5:16)  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:18)  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

(2 Corinthians 5:19)  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

(2 Corinthians 5:20)  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

(2 Corinthians 5:21)  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In fact we are to seek not our own good, but our neighbor’s:

(1 Corinthians 10:24)  Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

In Philippians 2 it advises us to do all in humility (selfless) and not self seeking (selfishness)

(Philippians 2:1)  So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

(Philippians 2:2)  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

(Philippians 2:3)  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

(Philippians 2:4)  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

(Philippians 2:5)  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

(Philippians 2:6)  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

(Philippians 2:7)  but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

(Philippians 2:8)  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(Philippians 2:9)  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

(Philippians 2:10)  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

(Philippians 2:11)  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:12)  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

(Philippians 2:13)  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

(Philippians 2:14)  Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

(Philippians 2:15)  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Now I am going to use scriptures to contrast the selfless spirit life with the spiritual life and these verses also contain encouragements to live by the spirit and not the flesh. First up is a passage in Galatians 5 and 6, which warns of the consequences of the flesh and also encourages people to live in the spirit, being selfless as a result.

(Galatians 5:13)  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

(Galatians 5:14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

(Galatians 5:15)  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

(Galatians 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

(Galatians 5:17)  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

(Galatians 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

(Galatians 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

(Galatians 5:21)  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

(Galatians 5:24)  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

(Galatians 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:26)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

(Galatians 6:1)  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

(Galatians 6:2)  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

(Galatians 6:4)  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

(Galatians 6:5)  For each will have to bear his own load.

(Galatians 6:6)  One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.

(Galatians 6:7)  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

(Galatians 6:8)  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

(Galatians 6:9)  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

(Galatians 6:10)  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The verses in Ephesians 4 also stress the importance of putting off our old selfish self and put on our new selfless self:

(Ephesians 4:17)  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

(Ephesians 4:18)  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

(Ephesians 4:19)  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

(Ephesians 4:20)  But that is not the way you learned Christ!--

(Ephesians 4:21)  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

(Ephesians 4:22)  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

(Ephesians 4:23)  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

(Ephesians 4:24)  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

(Ephesians 4:25)  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

(Ephesians 4:26)  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

(Ephesians 4:27)  and give no opportunity to the devil.

(Ephesians 4:28)  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

(Ephesians 4:29)  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

(Ephesians 4:30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

(Ephesians 4:31)  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

(Ephesians 4:32)  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Again putting off the old self and putting on the new one is stressed in Colossians

(Colossians 3:1)  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

(Colossians 3:3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

(Colossians 3:4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

(Colossians 3:5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

(Colossians 3:6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

(Colossians 3:7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

(Colossians 3:11)  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

(Colossians 3:12)  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Colossians 3:15)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

(Colossians 3:16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Here in 1 John 3 it speaks of our need to love one another that way they know we have passed from death to life eternal:

(1 John 3:14)  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

(1 John 3:15)  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

(1 John 3:16)  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

(1 John 3:17)  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

(1 John 3:18)  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Many selfish people indeed do hate their brother, at least if he does not bow down to the selfish person’s desires, so this is a warning to them. The need to be love, and to be selfless is continued in 1 John 4 where it says one cannot know God without loving, for God Himself is love

(1 John 4:7)  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

(1 John 4:8)  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

(1 John 4:9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

(1 John 4:10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

(1 John 4:11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(1 John 4:12)  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

(1 John 4:13)  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

(1 John 4:14)  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

(1 John 4:15)  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

(1 John 4:16)  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

(1 John 4:17)  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

(1 John 4:18)  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

(1 John 4:19)  We love because he first loved us.

(1 John 4:20)  If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

(1 John 4:21)  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

We must all love one another, and not be selfish, for really no selfish person can love, for selfishness is all about granting one’s personal desires regardless to the cost to others. Therefore no selfish person can really know God. Being selfless is all about granting others’ desires and that is all about love. Here is the love chapter in 1 Corinthians

(1 Corinthians 13:1)  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

(1 Corinthians 13:2)  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

(1 Corinthians 13:3)  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

(1 Corinthians 13:4)  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

(1 Corinthians 13:5)  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

(1 Corinthians 13:6)  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

(1 Corinthians 13:7)  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(1 Corinthians 13:8)  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

(1 Corinthians 13:9)  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

(1 Corinthians 13:10)  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

(1 Corinthians 13:11)  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

(1 Corinthians 13:12)  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Here is some advice on things to do to be selfless and continue in it. It is found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:

(1 Thessalonians 5:11)  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

(1 Thessalonians 5:12)  We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

(1 Thessalonians 5:13)  and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14)  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

(1 Thessalonians 5:15)  See that no one repays anyone evil
for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16)  Rejoice always,

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)  pray without ceasing,

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:19)  Do not quench the Spirit.

(1 Thessalonians 5:20)  Do not despise prophecies,

(1 Thessalonians 5:21)  but test everything; hold fast what is good.

(1 Thessalonians 5:22)  Abstain from every form of evil.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Thessalonians 5:24)  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Here is a long but powerful prayer for humility and selflessness to help you along the way, so do not be at all hesitant to take the time to pray this prayer with me often, as I do believe it can be of great benefit:

Lord Jesus,

What can I possibly say to You, my King, as You continue to grow and challenge me each day, taking me deeper into the mysteries of Your Word. For so long now I have been searching after You, and for even longer than that, You have been drawing me closer and taking me deeper -- often in spite of myself. It astonishes me how many times I have thought something was beyond my ability to understand, and You showed up pointing the way to a clearer understanding of Your biblical truths. I somehow suspect I will spend the rest of my life -- and even eternally in heaven -- delving into the wonder of Your Holy Word.

Seeing Your glory has become the goal of my life. Being changed by You -- by Your Word -- has become the mainstay of my daily life. I know without a doubt that I still have a very long way to go. As You keep me hungry and draw me closer, Your will and Your ways have become my greatest treasures. I seek daily to unwrap the mysteries and wonders of You and Your ways.

I am astonished that even though I only see in part, You still manage to allow me to see through the veils that cover my eyes and my heart. It’s growth is like pealing away the layers of an onion -- with a revelation being unveiled with each new layer being peeled away.

Daily I find myself on my knees humbled by revelations of You, my Master -- and Your truths. Whenever I open my heart and pray a prayer like: "What would you have me to do this day, Lord?" You respond -- and quite often another layer of confusion disappears. I’ve also discovered that alongside this wonderful gift of revelation, come the dealings of my God, as You call me to task, challenging me to trust You a little bit more.

I admit, Lord, as I allow You to rip away anything in me that does not please You, I am oftentimes found crying out, "No more!" But it is at that moment, Lord, I find Your grace and Your mercy as the truth of my own nature becomes clearer -- and Your love for me is recognized as being greater than I previously understood. What a journey we -- the Body of Christ -- are on, and how grateful I am that I am still pushing forward -- instead of giving up as I am so often tempted to do.

I am praying this morning for the Body of Christ to awaken to the challenges of our God. I pray we will step out in faith and renewed trust -- to receive the "new wine of the Spirit" -- which You make available to all of Your kids. As You frequently do in these days, Lord, I thank You for keeping me focused on prayer -- and on the wonders of the new covenant life I have been given to live.

When You find someone praying this prayer who is discouraged -- or even completely sidelined, Lord, I pray Your Holy Spirit would deal with their concerns. As You deal with them, I pray You would draw them closer to the flame of Your truth and Your Presence! Renew their hope in You, Lord -- and under Your firm but loving control -- do whatever is necessary to get them to the destination of Your choice.

Help them also to keep remembering they are on a journey. Remind them that with every passing day, they are given new opportunities through the Spirit within -- to see new wonders -- to be changed each day into a person of greater faith -- dependent trust -- Holy Spirit power -- and purer revelations.

As I have humbled myself before you -- as I have allowed other believers to speak into my life -- and as I have learned to be "shrewd as a snake and as innocent as a dove" (Matthew 10:16) -- my life has changed -- and my faith, hope, and love increased exponentially. It is in this humility that I have learned the value of being willing to step out of my comfort zones and into the often insecure world revealed by the Holy Spirit. I honestly cannot say I am completely comfortable with the way the Holy Spirit works in my life -- but I can say I have grown in faith and trust. With each passing day His guidance has become critical -- and even life producing -- and life saving.

One of my greatest life lessons of late is learning to distinguish the cry of the Holy Spirit -- even when the source may come from someone who is heavenly sandpaper in my life. This has been a huge learning lesson for me -- even to the place where You have shown me that I am often used as a piece of heavenly sandpaper myself in other lives. Your ways are indeed humbling, but learning to trust the Holy Spirit and to understand the fallacy of human beings in general -- has truly helped me to grow -- as my dependence on You has grown.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your patience with us. Thank You for your Word -- which is the source of all truth. Thank You for the Holy Spirit that takes us deeper each day into the minefield of Your bible -- and grows us to become more dependent, more humble -- and above all more in love with You. Thank You that You daily allow me to experience You and Your truths in a greater way.

O what an awesome God we serve! May all we do this day be a reflection of You and Your glory -- in spite of ourselves -- as we trust more and more in Your Word -- and in the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit! This life of mine is not about me. To you be the honor and the glory!

In the mighty Name of Jesus I pray, Amen

God did the ultimate act of selflessness and sacrifice when He sent His Son,  Jesus, to die a most miserable death for your and my sake so we can be saved and avoid hell which our sins would have otherwise have sent us. Both God the Father and Jesus want to have a loving relationship with us, and for us to love one another. So if you are feeling a bit convicted, and want to establish a relationship with Jesus or restore a broken relationship with Him, please do not hesitate to pray the following prayer with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours.