Having the mentality of serving the "other" is not a hard mentality to obtain but I think it is a hard mentality to keep, Here's what I mean, we can easily serve other people, we can go on that mission trip or serve at that location but consistently doing it is a different story.
Not that serving in this way cannot be done, it is at times difficult to maintain the ability to do it on a consistent basis. Either; we forget, or we get distracted, or we change our focus. But what we read today reminds us that we need to have the focus to be able to stay consistent.
I think title of the second section really puts the whole thing into perspective. "Changing our Focus Changes Us." I am not sure that we are completely capable to do this type of thing on our own - but instead we have to have the focus of Christ in us, in order for us to do any time of "other" work. Regardless of what it might be, serving the poor in our own city or in another country.
Let me pause here for a moment and say this, yes people can serve and care for the poor and the disenfranchised in many ways, but if the compassion is not driven by the love of Christ, it is driven by something else, and I don't they are the same thing.
Let's move for the right reasons, for the right purpose, with the right motivation, that is the motivation of Christ.
"What steps can I take to move from self to others?"
I need to be able to stop living in my own world in my head and LISTEN when someone else is hurting...show empathy and Jesus' love. Today a co-worker just needed a listening ear and compassionate heart while still being challenged in her walk. My heart was grieved to hear her hurt at the hands of friends and other believers. A very painful thing to remind me of just how hurtful we can be when we aren't intentionally walking with Him, moment by moment, and do or say things that can wound someone else.
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