Ghostbusters ∙∙

Ghostbusters ∙∙

He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected. – Mark 16:1

Luke 24:36-39

 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.

 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?

 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”

“Ghostbusters” is an American fantasy comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and released in 1984. It was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, who also starred in the film alongside Bill Murray. The story revolves around three eccentric parapsychologists, played by Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis, who start a ghost-catching business called the Ghostbusters in New York City.

“Ghostbusters” was the first comedy film to employ expensive special effects: a combination of practical effects, miniatures, and puppets to deliver the paranormal, macabre visuals. This combination of comedy and impressive visual effects helped make “Ghostbusters” a beloved and successful film, leading to its status as a pop culture icon.

“Ghostbusters” was released on June 8, 1984, to critical acclaim and became a cultural phenomenon. It was well-received for its deft blend of comedy, action, and horror, and Murray’s performance was repeatedly singled out for praise. The film earned $282.2 million during its initial theatrical run, making it the second-highest-grossing film of that year and the highest-grossing comedy of all time up to that point. It was the number-one film in theaters for seven consecutive weeks.

In 2015, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Nagging doubt and feelings of fear and uncertainty often go together. The disciples were already shaken to the core and filled with grief. The Lord Jesus Christ was dead and buried. They had definite abandonment issues and feared for their lives. They were in hiding and awaiting the next shoe to drop. What could be worse?

How about mass hysteria followed by mass insanity? Suddenly, behind closed doors, somehow, there was a presence in their midst. It was speaking and offering them peace and consolation. Rather than breathing a sigh of relief and expressing gratitude, they were deeply unsettled and terrified. Perhaps their imaginations were running wild, or they were losing their minds. They could not believe their eyes or ears. This simply could not be happening. It was just too good to be true. In the natural world, it was impossible.

Faith and fear do not mix well together.

What was their first thought? It must be a ghost or, worse, some manifestation of an evil spirit. How would you react if you were there?

Most likely, they, like us, had never actually seen a ghost, but what they saw must have been what they thought a ghost would have been like.

The Greek word translated as ghost or spirit here is pneuma. In this context, it refers to a disembodied spirit, a ghost. A disembodied spirit traditionally refers to the immaterial essence of a person’s character that departs from the physical body upon death. It is believed to manifest itself to others in a tangible form, resembling the appearance of the individual it represents. However, this notion is human speculation and not explicitly supported by scriptural texts. Truth. The Greek word more frequently translated as ghost is phantasma, which has the sense of an apparition or spirit (Matthew 14:26).

With a bit of ghostbusting, the problem was solved, and their fears were relieved. He had triumphed over death. Indeed, He was risen. He was risen indeed.

REFLECT & PRAY

Sadly, even as children of the King, we, too, are slow to believe.

Father I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).

INSIGHT

It is natural to be slow to believe. When our minds are made up, it is hard to believe what our eyes and ears may tell us. The disciples were not expecting any miracles. What they thought was happening was being controlled by what they thought could happen. Apparently, their fear prevented them from initially recognizing Jesus.

The disciples are portrayed as slow to accept the resurrection. Although they had heard the prediction numerous times, they did not expect the Lord Jesus to be raised. Nor do they expect Him to appear afterward. As with most people, they had to be persuaded. The disciples were as skeptical as the rest of humanity (Bock)

The Lord Jesus Christ was not a disembodied spirit. Instead, His physical body had been transformed. His new resurrection body was tangible and corporeal. But the evidence of His death on the cross remained. The holes in His hands, feet, and side told His story. Even though His body was healed and strong, His wounded hands and feet remained. For all eternity, our beloved Savior and Lord will bear the marks of His love for us. The marks are not scars. They are open wounds. The wounds remain as they were when the Romans first made them.

“Christianity is not founded on the dreams of disordered minds or the visions of fevered eyes, but on one who in actual historical fact, faced and fought and conquered death and rose again.”

“The cross was not forced on God; it was not an emergency measure when all else had failed and when the scheme of things had gone wrong. It was part of the plan of God, for it is the one place on earth where, in a moment of time, we see His eternal love” (Barclay).

He is risen; He is risen, indeed!

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© Dr. H 2023

Envy and the whack ∙∙

Envy and the whack ∙∙

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. – Galatians 6:4

Genesis 4:2-9

 2 When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.

 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD.

 4 Abel also brought a gift – the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift,

 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

 6 “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?”

 7 “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

 8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

 9 Afterward the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

On January 6, 1994, during a practice session for the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed by an assailant on the right knee with a baton. The man was hired by Tonya Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and his friend, Shawn Eckardt.

The widely publicized incident, referred to as “the whack,” reverberated globally and posed a significant threat to Kerrigan’s chances of making it onto the U.S. Olympic team.

Harding said she and Kerrigan were “competitors, yes. rivals, no.” Uh-huh! Did Tonya Harding have envy issues? Do you think? Just eliminate the competition, and everything will be okay.  

Envy is a form of self-destructive emotional bondage and often damaging to others. If we care to admit it, many of us have an ugly habit of comparing ourselves with others. All too often, making such comparisons often does not turn out well. Rather than counting our own blessings, envy stirs us to jealously look at the blessings of others. When we come up short, displeasure, anger, and hatred are aroused. Things escalate from there. So, it was with Tonya Harding.

Where did this begin? It began with Cain, the very first human baby born on planet Earth. He was envious of his brother Abel; why? Both of the brothers offered gifts to the Father. The Lord accepted Abel’s gift but rejected Cain’s. Why? Genesis does not say; however, Hebrews sheds light.

Hebrews 11:4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

Abel offered his gift by faith. His gift demonstrated that he was a righteous man. Cain was not. “Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: his heart wasn’t right with God. It was ‘by faith’ that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, which means that he had faith in God and was right with God” (Wiersbe). Outward actions motivated by an evil heart are unacceptable. The Father rejected Cain’s offering because of the condition of Cain’s heart. Indeed, Abel speaks to us today as an example of faith lived out.

Cain’s lack of faith got the better of him. Cain’s envy became a lethal rage, and Cain murdered Abel. The Father has a commandment that covers this issue.

Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

When a person covets, an insatiable longing for that which others possess takes root and develops into a deadly fury. Covetousness incentivizes deceit, theft, and even murder. What we desire most, we worship. When we put our coveted things before our devotion to the Father, it is idolatry.

REFLECT & PRAY

Jeremiah 17:9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Father my heart is prone to evil. It is so easy to be deceived by sin, which crouches at the door of my heart. Encourage me to think and do right.

INSIGHT

The Genesis story focuses on Cain’s reaction to the Father accepting Abel’s offering while rejecting his. Cain’s reaction exposes his evil heart. From the darkness of his heart, Cain becomes consumed by anger towards the Father and his brother.

 “Cain was so angry he would not be talked out of his sin – even by God” (Ross).

If we abide wrong heart motives, any efforts to please the Father are, at best wishful thinking, at worse delusional vanity.

1 John 3:12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

The Father explained to Cain that obedience leads to blessings, yet Cain succumbed to his envy and resentment, allowing them to overpower him. His anger escalated to committing murder. Cain chose to disregard what was right and allowed sin to seize control over his actions.

Genesis 4:7 “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Sin is envisioned as a vicious, relentless beast. It crouches in the shadows waiting to pounce.

The Hebrew word translated as crouching is rabats. It is a word picture of an animal lying in wait to ambush, lurking, and behaving in a sneaky and secretive manner.

The Hebrew word translated as control is teshuqah. Teshuqah frequently means to desire, to crave, to long for, to dominate, of a beast to devour. Here it is ramped up a bit and has the sense to desire to control. Personified sin desires to control Cain. Rather than resist, he gives in, and fratricide is the bloody consequence.

After the evil deed was done, the Father came calling. He asked pointedly about Abel. The Father was not seeking information. He already knew. He was allowing Cain to come clean and confess.

Genesis 4:9 Afterward the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The Father’s question strikes at the heart of the matter. Cain was curt, cold, uncaring, and sarcastic. He lied and refused to take responsibility.

Cain had a choice. He could allow sin to dominate and control him, or he could take control and master sin. The outcome is totally in his hands.

The same is true for each child of the King.

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© Dr. H 2023

The patron saint of mediocrity ∙∙

The patron saint of mediocrity ∙∙

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for the light makes everything visible. – Ephesians 5:13-14

John 3:19-21

 19 God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Einstein was able to discover and extract secrets from the Father’s intelligently designed, created universe. From within the intricately crafted cosmos, Einstein discerned and extracted concealed truth from the structured tapestry of the universe. Einstein propelled modern physics forward with quantum leaps powered by his extraordinary insights.

Albert Einstein possessed a profound connection to Mozart, greatly admiring the composer’s work. Einstein sensed that Mozart had discovered and extracted his music in a very similar fashion. “Mozart’s music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe” (Einstein). Einstein suggested that, whereas Beethoven “created” his music, Mozart’s music “seemed to have been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master” (Einstein).

The ethereal beauty yet sublime simplicity of Mozart’s music is depicted in the 1984 film Amadeus. In the movie, Antonio Salieri is Mozart’s antagonist. Salieri was a man of modest musical talent. But he could recognize the magnificent, unmatched talent of Mozart. Salieri adored Mozart’s music but hated Mozart himself due to his seething envy and resentment.

Salieri glances at some of Mozart’s complete handwritten, original compositions. He recognizes the sublime genius and beauty of his music. The autographs were written in one sitting without edits or errors. Salieri exclaims, “Music, finished as no music is ever finished. Displace one note, and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase, and the structure would fall.”

Under the guise of faux friendship, Salieri “assists” Mozart in writing the composer’s final work, the Requiem Mass in D minor. Salieri desperately desires to be the equal of Mozart in the composition of music but recognizes he could never be. He acknowledges his own mediocrity. Salieri dubs himself “The Patron Saint of Mediocrity.”

The Lord Jesus Christ perceives mediocrity as a manifestation of evil, albeit with a specific aspect in mind. His focus is not on mere lack of skill or capability, as individuals naturally possess varying degrees of proficiency across different areas. Every person has a continuum of skill sets. Some of their skills are excellent, others not so much. The mediocrity that Christ deems as evil encompasses a particular kind of inadequacy or insufficiency which individuals are fully aware of yet consciously choose to deny or disregard.

Rather than working to overcome their weaknesses and improve their skills, they hide their inadequacy and incompetence and put up a false face. The hallmark of this type of mediocrity is resentment. These folks resent the capability, skill, and talent of others that engender their success and achievement. In the presence of greatness, the mediocre experience internal tremors as they fear the potential exposure of their limitations. So, it was with the religious leaders at the time of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:19-20

 19 God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius” (Arthur Conan Doyle).

Father the idea of living in paltry mediocrity should be appalling to the children of the King. Convict our hearts regarding this form of evil.

INSIGHT

Two different Greek words are translated as evil in John 3:19-20. In John 3:19, the Greek term translated as evil is poneros. The semantic domain of poneros covers a broad spectrum of evil. It has the connotation of being wicked, malicious, bad, harmful, morally wrong, corrupt, vicious, or degenerate.The English word pornography is derived from this term.

In John 3:20, the Greek term translated as evil is phaulos. Phaulos does not connote something which is overtly evil or wicked. But instead, it consists of something far more subtle yet insidious: paltry mediocrity. The English word paltry is derived from phaulos. It can be translated as mediocre, insignificant, meager, worthless, good–for–nothing, depraved, or base. That which is mediocre is relatively inferior in quality, ordinary, substandard, or inadequate.

The religious leaders avoided the light because they did not want their mediocrity revealed. They refused to consider or even recognize their own inadequacies. Perhaps they had become numb or blind to them. The Lord Jesus Christ called them blind guides. They were blindly leading the people astray.

Light exposes the thoughts and deeds of darkness. One tiny candlelight illumines the darkest darkness. The world hated the Lord Jesus Christ because He accused it of doing evil (John 7:7).

People living in darkness learn to love the darkness. That is all they know. When the true light of the world comes, they reject it. They avoid the piercing light of exposure and humiliation at all costs.

The Greek word translated as exposed is elegcho. Elegcho means to scrutinize or examine carefully, bring to light, convince, convince, or bring someone to the point of recognizing wrongdoing.

What differentiates the children of the King from those who are not? “The difference between the believer and the unbeliever does not lie in the guilt or innocence of either; it lies in the different attitudes they take toward the ‘light.’ The unbeliever shrinks from the light because it exposes his sin; the believer willingly comes to the light so that his real motives may be revealed” (Tenney, EBC).

When a light is turned on in a dark room where cockroaches are present, the roaches scurry into the darkness to hide from and avoid the light. The life, words, and actions of the Lord Jesus Christ are the light of the world. They expose the evil and mediocrity of people. Their darkened souls are unmasked and laid bare. They are threatened. It is very difficult to admit their limitations. It is hard for anyone to acknowledge and accept that others might outshine them.

The fallen world is enveloped in profound darkness. It is a very dark place. Darkness is a spiritual reality, a kingdom under the domination of the enemy of our souls. Within this realm, mediocrity and degenerate wickedness emerge as the two prevailing forces, propelling the shadows deeper and perpetuating the darkness surrounding us.

“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same” (Billy Graham).

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© Dr. H 2023

We need only ask ∙

We need only ask ∙

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. – Psalms 25:4

Psalms 143:4-11 

 4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

 5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

 7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

 8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

 11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

Who has not gotten lost sometimes? Being lost and feeling helpless is a scary experience, no matter how old you are. However, knowing what to do when you get lost can have a major effect on whether the incident is empowering or traumatic. The best advice, particularly for children, is to have a safety plan. Your safety plan defines what to do if and when you get lost.

Children are advised to take the following steps when separated from the adults in their life.

1. STOP!

2. Stand tall and strong if it is safe to stay where you are. Otherwise, go to the nearest place that is safe.

3. Look around for your adults. Most of the time, when children think they are lost from their adults, they are actually close by. Take a minute to stop and look; you may find them again.

4. If you cannot see the adults you came with, yell out the names you use to call them.

5. If that doesn’t work, ask a woman with children for help. Statistically, a woman with children is least likely to harm a lost child (kidpower.org).

Feeling lost looks different for everyone. When David felt lost spiritually and emotionally, his spirit was overwhelmed. He experienced a sense of emptiness, panic, and even desolation. He appeals to the Father for help. David was a man after God’s heart. He models an excellent safety plan for the rest of us when we encounter similar dilemmas.

REFLECT & PRAY

May my repeated prayer be, teach me to do your will, for you are my God (Psalms 143:10).

Father I often have felt lost and separated from You. I know that that can never be. But being human, I feel that way anyway. Thank You are always there. I need only to ask.

INSIGHT

David’s core priority is to please the Father, to discover His will, and do it. It is not about self-fulfillment but instead about completing the Father’s plan for his life. He needs more than direction. He needs to be shepherded. He entrusts himself totally to the Father. And he desires that the Father will do work within him.

Psalms 143:4-6

 4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

 5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

Amid these dire circumstances, David is paralyzed with fear and has lost all hope. But remarkably, his mind begins to drift towards thoughts of his heavenly Father. He recalls and ponders who the Father is and all He has done. He reminisces. Repeatedly the Father has saved the people of Israel from grave situations. David’s thinking is straightforward. His un-verbalized thoughts are, “Father if You have done it before, You can do it again.” In total dependence upon the Father’s character and essence, David boldly lifts his heart and soul to Him during his great distress. He is confident that the Father will intervene.

Psalms 143:7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

David emphasizes how serious the situation is. His despondency and despair are escalating. He is about to drop off the cliff. He beseeches the Father, fearing that he might spiral down to death itself.

Psalms 143:8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

David totally entrusts himself to the Father. He places his life in His Father’s hands.

Psalms 143: 10-11

 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

 11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

David is very specific and earnestly seeks the Father’s guidance and deliverance.  However, his aspirations extend beyond mere deliverance. David yearns for wisdom and instruction in the Father’s ways. He asks that the Father graciously direct him to safety. More specifically, he asks that the good and gracious Spirit direct him on an uncomplicated path, free from obstacles and hardships. He asks the Father to save his life and bring him out of distress.

David’s appeals are not based upon his own inherent righteousness or goodness.  David identifies himself intimately with the Father, considering himself as the Father’s devoted servant. David recognizes that his mission is unfinished and seeks the Father’s guidance and assistance to fulfill it. Moreover, there is a profound identification between David and the Father, signifying their inseparable connection. The Father is also identified with David. The Father’s reputation is tied to the outcome.

David does not attempt to bargain with the Father. He has no leverage within himself. Instead, David approaches the Father with reverence. He appeals to the Father based on the Father’s character, nature, and personality. He declares in humble adoration, “You are my God.” 

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© Dr. H 2023

Personal achievement ∙∙

Personal achievement ∙∙

In humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

James 4:1-10

 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong– you want only what will give you pleasure.

 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

According to Dr. Ruth Gotian in Forbes, recent studies indicate that high achievers in modern organizations exhibit remarkable productivity, surpassing average employees by an astounding 400%. These exceptional individuals consistently outperform established benchmarks.

However, despite their exceptional performance, high achievers often require additional mentorship and a well-defined path for career progression. Consequently, many organizations still need formal programs to acknowledge and nurture high achievers to become future leaders. The result? The high achievers get frustrated by the lack of advancement and innovation and leave the organization.

Research by Daniel Pink demonstrates that for high achievers, intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic remuneration, such as bonuses or salary increases, is far more influential and satisfying (Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us).

High achievers who strive for excellence strongly desire to witness their company actively fostering creative innovation, curiosity, and passion. They seek assurance that the organization consistently sets higher standards to deliver value. Moreover, they value knowing that the company invests in their professional growth and offers opportunities for advancement within the organization.

In our fallen world, there is often a tendency to applaud and reward individuals who relentlessly pursue personal gain and success. Especially during our formative years, many of us prioritize our own accomplishments and progress for various reasons. Aspiring for excellence is commendable and worthwhile. However, it should not be done at the expense of sidetracking our relationship with the Father and neglecting the importance of valuing others.

Paul cautions us against being driven by selfishness or empty conceit. “‘Selfish ambition’ stands at the heart of human fallenness, where self-interest and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others primarily dictate values and behavior” (Fee).

The Greek term translated as selfish ambition is eritheia. Eritheiahas a sense of self-seeking pursuit or selfishness. It characterizes someone with a strong drive for personal success without moral restraints.

The Greek word translated conceit is kenodoxia. Kenodoxia is comprised of two Greek words kenos – vain, empty, and doxa – glory. It could be translated as vainglory, self-exultation, or empty pride. The primary idea behind this word is “empty opinion, error.” “Thus, it could depict a person who, though conceited, had no reason for it”(Ashy).

Paul exhorts us to raise the bar and do far better. He admonishes us to live with “humility of mind.” Humility is not a fawning self-depreciation. “The ‘submissive mind’ does not mean that the believer is at the beck and call of everybody else or that he is a “religious doormat’ for everybody to use” (Wiersbe)! Instead, humility entails recognizing and embracing one’s own limitations and abilities with a realistic perspective. Then we place ourselves at the disposal of the Father. We are to serve “at His pleasure.”

REFLECT & PRAY

Most of us are goal-driven. We have our own agendas and spend our time fulfilling them. If the truth be known, and it is in heaven, self-interest, self-aggrandizement, and empty opinion are the primary drivers that dictate our values and behavior.

Father God sadly, I recognize my propensity to advance my own schedule rather than discover Yours and seek to carry it out. Please help me to rearrange my priorities and focus.

INSIGHT

When driven by a competitive mindset, we frequently encounter the temptation to advance our own agendas. How can we rectify this situation? The solution is straightforward: we must prioritize the well-being of others above our own. The crucial aspect lies in extending the same level of care and commitment we have for ourselves toward the interests of others. This approach may seem radical and unusual. But it is a core value of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5-8

 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

“‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5, NIV). After all, outlook determines outcome. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be divisive and destructive” (Wiersbe).

James 4:1-10

 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

 2 You want what you do not have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong– you want only what will give you pleasure.

 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world.

 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

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© Dr. H 2023