Christian Fellowship

-


Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Devotion:

            Our scripture from Philippians encourages us to have fellowship with our fellow believers. This fellowship is essential to our Christian walk. All of us get tired and worn out in our walk with the Lord. We need each other for encouragement and strength along the way. When one believer is experiencing trials and tribulations there is another that can raise his or her spirits up with an encouraging word or thoughtful deed. Paul teaches here that we are to be full of love toward our fellow believers in Christ. This love is to be the trademark of all of the Christian life.

            Tenderness and compassion are likewise to be shown to our fellow Christians. These qualities are often lacking in today’s church. When we see a fellow Christian suffering, we often turn a blind eye to their need. Perhaps thinking that they deserve whatever trials they are going through. The tenderhearted and compassionate Christian cannot help but reach out in love toward those who are suffering any kind of pain or suffering. By doing this we know that we are sharing in the Holy Spirit’s ministry among all believers. We are showing forth the fruit of the Spirit in our relationships with fellow Christians.

            Paul then warns the Philippian believers against acting out of selfish ambition and vain conceit. There is always a temptation to show off how good of a Christ-follower we are by doing actions that show what good and virtuous people we are. We must be humble with each other. Knowing that whatever goodness that is within us comes from Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is not our own doing so that none of us has any right to boast about our righteous deeds, or actions.

            In concluding this passage Paul urges us to count others as better than ourselves. Such is the mark of true humility in the Christian life. Looking and really seeing the needs of a fellow believer and meeting those needs means that we are going the right way in our walk with the Lord. Paul ends by explaining what Christian love is really supposed to be. That is a love that always looks out for our fellow Christians. Paul says if we behave this way Paul will be pleased with us. My bet is that not only Paul will be pleased with us if we extend a helping hand to our fellow Christians, but God will be pleased as well.

Prayer:

            Lord help us to be Christians who look out for the needs of our fellow believer’s. Let us always be looking for ways to serve one another. Let our lives be marked by (to hijack President Kennedy’s line) our asking not what the church can do for us, but what can we do for our church. Let us always seek a servant’s heart in all we do. May our lives bring glory to your holy name. Amen. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more