This document discusses the importance of yielding to and submitting to one another as Christians. It provides several biblical passages that encourage believers to give up their rights to judge others, hold grudges, seek revenge, gossip, always have their own way, think they are superior, and refuse to love and pray for others. The overall message is that when Christians fully yield themselves to Jesus and to others, it helps create unity, humility, forgiveness and love within the community of believers.
12. Honor Christ and put others first.
(Ephesians 5:21 â Contemporary English Version)
13. When we fully yield to Christ,
we are able to fully yield
to each other
14. Donât just pretend that you love others:
really love them. Hate what is wrong.
Stand on the side of the good. Love
each other with affection and take
delight in honoring each other . . .
15. When Godâs children are in need,
you be the one to help them out . . .
If someone mistreats you, donât curse
him; pray that God will bless him. When
others are happy, be happy with them.
16. If they are sad, share their sorrow.
Work happily together. Donât try to act
big . . . And donât think you know it all!
Never pay back evil for evil . . . Donât
quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with
everyone, just as much as possible.
17. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves.
Leave that to God, for he has said that
he will repay those who deserve it . . .
Instead, feed your enemy
if he is hungry.
18. If he is thirsty give him something to
drink and you will be âheaping coals
of fire on his head.â In other words,
he will feel ashamed of himself for
what he has done to you.
19. Donât let evil get the upper hand,
but conquer evil by doing good.
(Romans 12:9-21 â Living Bible)
20. Donât be selfish; donât try to impress
others. Be humble, thinking of others as
better than yourselves. Donât look out
only for your own interests, but take
an interest in others, too.
(Philippians 2:3-4 â New Living Translation)
21. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
23. Stop judging, and you will never be
judged. Stop condemning, and you will
never be condemned. Forgive, and
you will be forgiven.
(Luke 6:37 â Godâs Word Translation)
24. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
26. Love is not irritable or touchy. It does
not hold grudges and will hardly even
notice when others do it wrong . . .
27. Banish bitterness, rage and anger,
shouting and slander, and any and all
malicious thoughtsâthese are poison.
(1 Cor. 13:5, Eph. 4:31 â Good News Bible/The Voice)
28. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
30. Donât say, âIâll do to him what he did to
me! Iâll repay him for what he did!â . . .
Donât pay back evil with evil, cursing
with cursing; instead, pay back
with a blessing . . .
31. Never take revenge, instead let God's
anger do it. For the scripture says,
âI will take revenge, I will pay back,
says the Lord.
(Prov. 24:29/1 Pet. 3:8-9/Rom. 12:19 â The Voice/Good News Bible)
32. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
34. Donât tear down another person with
your words. Instead, keep the peace,
and be considerate. Be truly humble
toward everyone . . . Donât let even one
rotten word seep out of your mouths.
35. Instead, offer only fresh words that
build others up when they need it most.
That way your good words will
communicate grace to those
who hear them.
(Titus 3:2/Ephesians 4:29 â The Voice)
36. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
38. Love is very patient and kind, never
jealous or envious, never boastful
or proud, never haughty or selfish
or rude. Love does not demand its
own way . . . letâs keep each step
in perfect sync with Godâs Spirit.
39. This will happen when we set aside our
self-interests and work together to
create true community instead of a
culture consumed by provocation,
pride, and envy.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Galatians 5:25-26 â Living Bible/The Voice)
40. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
42. Donât think you are better than you
really are. Be honest in your evaluation
of yourselves . . . Do not pay attention
to what humans value. Humans only
care about the external appearance,
43. but the Lord considers whatâs on the
inside . . .Weâre not putting ourselves
in a league with those who boast that
theyâre our superiors. We wouldnât dare
do that . . . all this comparing, grading
and competing miss the point.
(Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Samuel 16:7 â New Living Translation/The Message/The Voice)
44. WHEN I YIELD MYSELF TO
JESUS AND TO OTHERS . .
.
46. Youâre familiar with the old written law,
âLove your friend,â and its unwritten
companion, âHate your enemy.â Iâm
challenging that. Iâm telling you to love
your enemies. Let them bring out the
best in you, not the worst.
47. When someone gives you a hard time,
respond with the energies of prayer, for
then you are working out of your true
selves, your God-created selves. This
is what God does. He gives his bestâ
48. the sun to warm and the rain to
nourishâto everyone, regardless:
the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
If all you do is love the lovable,
do you expect a bonus?
(Matthew 5:44 â The Message)