If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete
by being like-minded, having the same love,
being one in spirit and purpose.
Philippians 2:1-2 NIV84
Do you have any encouragement from being united with Christ?
Any comfort from His love? Fellowship with the Spirit?
Tenderness? Compassion?
What do you experience from your relationship with Christ?
Whatever we experience in Him, we are to share with others.
I think about what I've received and how I came to be walking the Way with Him.
My faith journey began with my mom expressing the comfort she received from Him as she lay suffering from a fatal disease: I trust. I trust. The comfort He gave her comforted me. From that moment, my heart was captured by this God who makes Himself manifest in the darkest times through comfort, love, tenderness and compassion.
Walking His Way has been a journey I could never have anticipated. But the most striking truth, is that the way up is down.
...Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God...
made himself nothing... and became obedient to death ---
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8 NIV84
Your attitude should be the same....
Pastor Bonnie talked about step by step faith. Growing in our connection with Christ by giving Him top priority in our lives.
This means we have to begin to put ourselves second. He's first, and we take a step down in our place of importance.
Pastor Bonnie talked about step by step faith. Growing in our connection with Christ by giving Him top priority in our lives.
This means we have to begin to put ourselves second. He's first, and we take a step down in our place of importance.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 1:3 NIV84
The more we become like Him, the less we think of ourselves. The less we think about ourselves the more we think about others. The less we think of self, the more we are willing to stoop down and suffer on behalf of another. With each individual's step down, an entire community can come to unity in Him.
In stepping down from self, we become more like Him, and more able and willing to love others. Ultimately, stepping down leads to finding comfort even in the shadow of death because our focus is on Him not self.
...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling...
Stepping down... trusting Him...
Carol Weaver
No comments:
Post a Comment