Day 5: We Is Better Than Me

In a crowded room at Harvard University, the boxer Muhammad Ali strolled up to the podium to give an address to a group of eager students. As the applause died down, someone in the back shouted, give us a poem. Ali, famous for his quick wit and wordplay, paused a moment. Me, he said, and paused again for effect. Then, in a stronger voice, he closed the two-word poem with we. Ali touched on something that day that we all wrestle with, our own self-focused nature versus others' focused living. Ali had lived through the Civil Rights era, where his we had accomplished a lot of positive progress for black Americans through collective action. Sadly though, he'd seen the energy of social progress grind to a halt through a litany of me's as well. The me-focused of James Earl Ray tragically cut short the we-focused life of Martin Luther King Jr. Politicians and leaders sought out their own me-centered agendas. Ali had seen all of this and seen the power of both sides and captured it beautifully in just two two-letter words. Followers of Jesus are called to we-living above me-living. This isn't just about working together towards a common goal though. It's a radical invitation to truly consider other people more important than us and set an example of love that will point the world towards Jesus. This other's first outlook is vital to truly following the example Jesus set. Recall from day two, where someone asked him what the most important command was. And Jesus responded, the most important one, he answered, is this, hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord your God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Jesus makes it a point to mention both commands together every time he's asked this question.

You can't truly love God without also intentionally loving others. These are two sides of the same coin. You cannot live a me-focused life toward other people and expect to live a God-focused life at the same time. So what are some practical ways to live out Jesus' kind of love? After all, loving one another is not so much what we feel as it is how we act. Our actions reveal our motives more often than our words do. As we explore day five of the seven-day start, we'll look at three ways to live a we-focused life of love. Our first marker of healthy Christian relationships is humility. Who is someone in your life that you consider humble? What does it even mean to be humble? Many people confuse humility with being self-deprecating or not taking yourself too seriously. In truth, godly humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Yesterday we heard a little bit about Paul, who was one of Jesus' early followers. In another one of his letters to a church in a town called Philippi, this was his encouragement. Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one in spirit and one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. This kind of humble love brings unity. Paul says it can make us one in spirit and mind, but that only happens when we love others well by valuing them over ourselves. What is most important to us should always be considered less important than what those around us need. This is the example that Jesus set all throughout his life and teachings. In fact, he even told his friends and followers, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.

wants to be first, be your servant, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Later in his letter to Philippi, Paul goes on to talk about how Jesus was the ultimate role model of humility. Jesus was God in human form. He had all the power and authority in the universe, yet he laid it aside for the sake of others. He submitted his will to that of his Father and became obedient to die for each of us. In doing this, Jesus became the ultimate model of humble, others-focused living. Jesus' way is opposite in many ways to what society would make you think is important. Instead of aspiring to be great, aspire to serve. Instead of thinking of yourself more, think of yourself less. Instead of pursuing your own desires, consider what's most important to someone else first. Our second marker of healthy Christian relationships is compassion. Compassion is a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's situation, coupled with the desire to alleviate any suffering or pain they may be facing. True Christian compassion involves both an empathetic understanding of others' distress and a motivation to improve their situation. There are many ways to show compassion, but here are three rooted in Jesus' example. First, compassion can be shown to those who wrong us. Being compassionate to those who have hurt us can be one of the toughest things to do, but it is a vital part of living out our faith. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to forgive them, praying for those who have done us wrong. Paul in another one of his letters to some friends in Ephesus writes, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. This was too real for Paul, because he had suffered humiliation, ridicule, and the arrest of his friends, and almost lost his life at the hands of an angry Ephesian mob. The church he started would have remembered this incident well, and also remembered Paul handling the incident with graciousness, setting a great example for them to follow. Compassion in this context involves understanding that everyone makes mistakes, and that we

all need forgiveness. We have all been forgiven so much by God, so what sense does it make to bottle up offenses and become bitter at other people? Instead of holding on to anger or seeking revenge, we've been called to forgive. It's a way we can reflect God's love and grace to this world, just like the kind he shows us every day. It's one of the most powerful things we as Christ followers can do. Second, compassion can be shown to those suffering. God's heart is broken to see people who are sick, in need, and in grief, or facing some injustice. And it's our responsibility as followers of Jesus to work to alleviate these the best that we can. Jesus was a master storyteller, and he often used stories to make a point. In his friend Matthew's book about his life, Matthew recalls a very pointed story Jesus told about two kinds of his followers, and how living a life of compassion is one of the ways we can truly display to the world that we have chosen to follow Jesus. Jesus, speaking as himself in this story, says, For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothed you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The king will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. In Jesus' upside-down kingdom, the weakest and most vulnerable still have infinite value, and it's vital that we see them for who they are—children of God. By having compassion, we are reflecting the character of Jesus to the world. Finally, it's essential that we have compassion for those who have yet to choose to follow

Jesus. In another part of Matthew's book of stories about Jesus, he recalls, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, healing every sick person. disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus had the kind of compassion we just mentioned, compassion for those in need, but it was rooted in something much deeper. Jesus knew that the crowds he was teaching and the people he was healing needed God's love and forgiveness, and he was emotionally moved to think of the spiritual needs that they faced. Being compassionate to those who are not yet Christians is a crucial part of living out our faith. We should have a deep desire for everyone to know the love and salvation offered by Jesus. Compassion in this sense means that we feel the weight of their eternal destiny, just like Jesus did with the crowds. Jesus set the example for compassion towards non-believers. He was kind, inviting, and met them where they were without judgment. We can do the same for those in our family, our places of work, and schools, because we should deeply desire for non-believers to find salvation. Our role is to help them work towards that through compassionate acts and faith conversations, trusting God to work in their hearts. Ultimately, our compassion towards those who do not yet believe is an expression of our obedience to Christ's command to love our neighbors as ourselves. It's about showing the unconditional love and grace that we have received from God, hoping and praying that through our bold words and actions, more people will come to know the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ. The final marker of healthy Christian relationships is community. At the core, Christianity is an others-focused faith. All throughout the stories we find in the Bible, we see a healthy community, both modeled and encouraged. At its core, the lifestyle of a follower of Jesus is best practiced and realized within a community. First and foremost, the community aspect of Christianity is modeled after the life of Jesus, who spent his time on earth living and working with others. He taught his disciples and followers in a group, healed the sick in the presence of many, and traveled around with his group. After Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven, his friends followed the example he set. The earliest followers met regularly, shared meals, and supported each other

materially and spiritually. Luke, a friend of Paul, remembers it this way. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were there together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had a need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved. God designed for our faith to be lived out daily, alongside friends and fellow believers who can support us when we need it the most. The community aspect of Christianity is vital for personal growth and accountability. Being part of a Christian community provides believers with mentors and friends who can offer guidance and support and encouragement. This fellowship helps individuals to grow in their faith, stay committed to their beliefs, and live out the Christian values in their everyday lives. For all these reasons and many more, it's important to pursue regular community beyond just what happens on Sunday mornings. There are many ways to do this, but two stand out from the stories we read in the Bible. The first is community in a group of people. And we've already read Jesus practiced this. So did his early friends and followers. In fact, for most of the first 300 years of Christianity, this is how believers practiced community, in smaller groups tucked away in homes. The Romans did not like Christians taking focus and allegiance away from the devotion to the Emperor, so they had to meet privately, away from the Emperor's watch. Fortunately, we live in an era where, in the West, religious freedom of expression is valued and protected, so we can meet openly on Sundays. But there's still something unique about gathering together in a smaller group to study, share words of revelation, pray, and strengthen one another. The second is community in intentional relationships. Paul, who we have been hearing from was someone who devoted his life to traveling the world, teaching and training others to follow Jesus well. One of the people he took under his wing was a young Greek man named Timothy. After teaching him about Jesus and convincing him to become a follower, Paul invited Timothy to travel with him. Together, they visited many cities, building new churches. Eventually, Timothy led his own church in Ephesus. Much later in Timothy's life, he received this letter from an old mentor and friend with new instructions.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Paul was intentional not only to teach Timothy, but to make sure he trained other people to do the same. Timothy was not only supposed to be a teacher himself, but a teacher of teachers. This kind of community that Paul and Timothy modeled is essential. Everyone needs a mentor, and everyone needs to be encouraged to mentor others. You may fear that since you are new to following Jesus, you lack the knowledge or skills to truly mentor someone else. It can be simple, though. Begin just like Timothy did, by passing along what you've been taught. Don't let the knowledge and revelation stop with you. Share it with your community. Will you make the choice to love others well? Will you commit to live we over me? Choosing to live selflessly, compassionately, and in true community will help jumpstart your spiritual growth. Jesus is calling us to a radical new way. Let's choose love today.