Stepping Stones: Make Yourself Third

Transformational Tip
Being a big sports fan as a kid, I didn’t read many books. But when Gale Sayers, a famous football player, wrote I am Third…I couldn’t wait to read it. I was surprised…it had hardly any football, but it was attention grabbing. The movie made from the book, Brian’s Song, was the first movie I ever cried at. Dr James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, often writes about the “I am Third” approach to life as well; God first, others second, myself third.

We live in a world where the “I am Third” approach to life is in total misalignment with the messages we are bombarded with in TV ads; “Have it your way”… “Because I’m worth it”…”You deserve a break today”…”I need it”…”Me first”… ”My way or the highway”…”It’s all about you”.

The messages are endless and we get tem from every direction…especially coming from inside us. Our flesh is always crying out for “ME FIRST!”
In today’s Scripture Jesus tells us clearly what our first obligation is…to follow Him. And to do so we must deny ourselves.

Today, take note of how many times you make yourself first vs. third. Try to put into practice the concept of God first, others second, you third. You will find much more satisfaction living this way vs. what you see and hear on television. Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts on making yourself third.

Prayer
O Father, I hear Your invitation for me to follow You and to live a life of self-denial. I want to make You the Lord of my life. I pray, Father, that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit to help me live in obedience to You and in loving service to others. I pray in the name of the one denied Himself for me, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:24-27
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mark 10:21
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23