Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

TUESDAY AUGUST 18


UNDER SIEGE

READ:
Philippians 2:4
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Let each of you
look out not only for his own
interests, but also
for the interests
of others.
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During the Bosnian War (1992-1996), more than 10,000 people__civilians and soldiers__were killed in the city of Sarajevo as gunfire and mortar rounds rained down from the surrounding hills. Steven Galloway's gripping novel The Cellist of Sarajevo unfolds there, during the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. The book follows three fictional characters who must decide if they will become completely self-absorbed in their struggle to survive, or will somehow rise above their numbing circumstances to consider others during a time of great adversity.

From a prison in Rome, Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, saying: "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (PHIL. 2:4). Paul cited Jesus as the great example of a selfless focus on others: "Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God,...made Himself of no reputation...humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (vv.5-8). Rather than seeking sympathy from others, Jesus gave all He had to rescue us from the tyranny of sin.

Our continuing challenge as followers of Jesus is to see through His eyes and respond to the needs of others in His strength, even in our own difficult times. __David McCasland

**Are you going through something hard right now?
What can you still do for another?
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Embracing God's love for us is the key to loving others.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 2:1-11***********************
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if
any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if
any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-
minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or
conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to
be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking
the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven,
and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Chris is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The words that Paul penned to the Philippian
church while he was under house arrest are some of the most
challenging. There is so much in this short letter that goes
against our natural inclinations. From prison, Paul encouraged
the Philippian believers to "make his joy complete" (2:2 NIV). Paul
is joyful while in prison because of his faith in Christ, and he
encouraged the believers to add to his joy by looking out for one
another and counting others as more important than themselves.
Paul then uses Jesus as the example of this kind of selflessness.
in taking on humanity, Jesus gave up everything that was
rightfully His to come to our rescue. __J.R. HUDBERG