Help Each Other

Hi there, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading, titled Help Each Other, was written by Katerra Patton. When the basketball team from Fairleigh Dickinson University took to the floor for the college basketball tournament, the fans in the stands cheered for the underdog squad. The team hadn't been expected to make it past the first round, but they did, and now they heard their fight song blaring from the stands, though they didn't have a band with them. The University of Dayton band had learned FDU's song minutes before the game.

The band could have simply played songs they knew, but they chose to learn the song to help another school and another team. This band's actions can be seen to symbolize the unity described in Philippians. Paul told the early church at Philippi, and just today, to live in unity, or of one mind, particularly because they were united in Christ. To do this, the apostle encouraged them to give up selfish ambition and consider the interests of others before their own. Valuing others above ourselves may not come naturally, but it's how we can imitate Christ.

Paul wrote, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves. Instead of focusing only on ourselves, it's better to humbly look to the interests of others. How can we support others?

By carefully considering their interests, whether learning their fight songs or providing whatever they need. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Philippians chapter 2 verses 1-5. Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ. Let's pray. Lord Jesus, please show us ways we can help others by looking out for their interests before our own. Help us to live selflessly and serve others as You have served us. Thank You, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening. My name is Toni Collyer, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.