saturday devotion v3

i know as humans we are always looking to the next big thing.

when i was working in the Summer of 2012, all i could think about was going to YWAM.

when i was in the training phase of YWAM, all i could think of was when we would go to Cambodia.

when i was in Cambodia, all i could think of was going back to Nebraska.

when i came back to Nebraska, all i could think of was what did God want next for me?

when i was focused on the future, i missed the present.

God has called us to live in the present. yes we should prepare for the future, but that doesn't mean we should ignore what is right in front of me.

there are so many things that i'm waiting patiently for - marriage, kids, etc. but what does God want for me right now?

i was reminded of a devotion i completed earlier this week. it revolved around the verse Philippians 2.1-11:

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God ra thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (ESV, Biblia.com)

this passage is beautiful, but one major thing I got out of it was verses 3-5. wow, did i feel a slap in the face. all that time wasted, thinking about something that wasn't happening and it was focused on myself. i was definitely ambitious, selfishly thinking about myself. i put myself before others. how many relationships did i weaken by not being present? who was Jesus pointing out to love that i just turned a blind eye to?

basically, all i'm saying is it's not about me, it's not about you, it's not about us.

it's about Him and about others, here and now.