J.O.Y.

Reading: Leviticus 19-21

Have any of you ever entered a contest? Ever walked in a cake walk or have your name in a hat to be drawn for a prize? Did you hope that the person beside you would win? Doubtful! You wanted to win that prize or coconut cake for yourself! I think it’s part of our nature. But in all reality, if we want to be more like Christ, it is necessary for us to put others above ourselves. Now, you aren’t a bad person if you want to win the cake walk-that’s not at all what I’m saying. My point is that we have to value those around us more than we value ourselves. I like to think about JOY. Simply put, that is Jesus, Others, then You. It is important that our love for Christ precedes everything that we do-every relationship that we build. Then if Christ is the most important person in our lives, we will love others as we should, and in turn, we will find the satisfaction that we seek for ourselves. 

Just for today, examine how you value others. Familiarity breeds contentment and it could be that those we love the most are the ones most affected by our actions. Fill your life with JOY, and you will bring joy to others!