OUR DAILY BREAD :: A HEART OF CONCERN

[cimi]

March 19
Thursday


A HEART
OF CONCERN

READ:
Philippians 2:1-11
______________________________________

Let each esteem others
better than himself. Let
each of you look out
not only for his own
interests, but also for
the interests of others.
__Philippians 2:3-4
_______________________________________

Jason Ray was a ray of joy on the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill. He performed as Rameses (the school mascot) for 3 years, hauling his giant ram's head costume to sporting events one day and children's hospitals the next. Then, in March 2007, while with his team for a basketball tournament, Jason was struck by a car. His family watched and waited at the hospital, but the 21-year-old succumbed to his injuries and died.

His story doesn't end there, however. Jason had filed paperwork two years earlier to donate organs and tissue upon his death--and that act of concern saved the lives of four people and helped dozens of others. A young man in the prime of his life, with everything to live for, was concerned for the well-being of others and acted on that concern. Those individuals who were helped, as well as their families, are deeply grateful for this young man who thought of others.

Jason's act echoes the heart of Paul's words in Philippians 2, as he called believers to look beyond themselves and their own interests, and to look to the interests of others. A heart that turns outward to others will be a healthy heart indeed. __Bill Crowder
_____________________________________________________________

`````````````Love thyself last. Look near, behold thy duty```````````
````````````To those who walk beside thee down life's road.`````````
``````````````Make glad their days by little acts of beauty```````````
```````And help them bear the burden of earth's load. __Wilcox```````
_____________________________________________________________


Looking to the needs of others honors Christ.

***************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 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 on
earth, and of those under
the earth, 11 and that every
tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Paul instructed the Philippians to look out for others." Christ
has been called "the man for others." Shortly before His betrayal
and crucifixion, he diligently ministered to His disciples. yet He
also left with them the expectation that they too would focus on
the needs of others: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).
__Denis Fisher