None of you should think only of his own affairs but should learn to see things from other people’s point of view. Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. Philippians 2:4-5 J. B. Phillips NT
“He’s touching me dad!” Our six-year-old yelled from the back seat. Trying not to take my eyes off the road, I shouted back, “What’s going on?” “He was looking at me!” came the squealing reply from his younger brother, while my wife began rolling her eyes, trying hard not to laugh. While I chuckle as I recall those long-ago memories, they also remind me that, today as a senior citizen, I am riding in the back seat, and my Father in Heaven is at the wheel. Sometimes I wonder if He also rolls His eyes because of my behavior, and in today’s verse I hear His voice telling me to stop poking my brother and start acting like a member of the family.
First I hear Him say, “Stop just thinking about yourself, while yelling, ‘My brother is touching me!’ Remember that your little brother might just want your attention!”
While I am thinking that one over, God clears His throat and continues, “Next, try learning to see things from other’s points of view. Yes, that even includes, republicans, democrats, illegal immigrants, and (you fill in the blank). Now, I don’t mean you always have to agree with them. Just try looking at things from where they sit. You might just see yourself differently and maybe even stop shouting, ‘He was looking at me!’ and begin seeing them the way that God does.”
While I wiggle in my seat Father’s words sink in and then He turns and gives me one final bit of advice. “Son, you must start thinking like Jesus. Remember that when He was being whipped He didn’t shout, ‘Father, they are touching me!’ After they stripped Him naked and nailed Him to the cross, He didn’t yell, ‘They are looking at me!’ And when He died, Jesus didn’t mutter, ‘They’re in trouble now!’ Instead, He prayed, ‘Father forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.’ Try remembering that Jesus didn’t come to get even: He came to make us a family and He gave His life so that you could ride in the back seat all the way home!”
Peter Caligiuri has been writing poetry since he was a teen-ager. Some of his short poems and devotionals have appeared in various periodicals such Secret Place, Breakthrough Intercessor and The Upper Room. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/English from Western Connecticut State College as well as having attended Elim Bible College. https://christiandevotions.us/viewauthor/430
Feature Image Created by Andy Oldham using FlatAi
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