Under siege

Value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but… to the interests of the others. vv. 3-4

During the Bosnian War (1992–1996), more than 10,000 people — civilians and soldiers — were killed in the city of Sarajevo as gunfire and mortar rounds rained down from the surrounding hills. Steven Galloway’s gripping novel The Cellist of Sarajevo unfolds there, during the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. The book follows three fictional characters who must decide if they will become completely self-absorbed in their struggle to survive, or will somehow rise above their numbing circumstances to consider others during a time of great adversity.

From a prison in Rome, Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, saying: “Value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil. 2:4). Paul cited Jesus as the great example of a selfless focus on others: “Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, . . . made himself nothing… humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross” (vv. 5-8). Rather than seeking sympathy from others, Jesus gave all He had to rescue us from the tyranny of sin.

Our continuing challenge as followers of Jesus is to see through His eyes and respond to the needs of others in His strength, even in our own difficult times. — David McCasland

Are you going through something hard right now? What can you still do for another?

READ: Philippians 2:1-11

Embracing God’s love for us is the key to loving others.

Bible in a Year:

Psalms 100-102 and 1 Corinthians 1