Scripture – “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, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
Observation – If you have ANY encouragement, love, common sharing in the Spirit, tenderness or compassion from being united with Christ then love people as Jesus did. Don’t live in a selfish way but in humility value others above yourself and look out for them.
Application – Due to disappointment, fatigue, deadlines, competition, bills, budgets, heavy workloads, health issues, aging parents, tariffs, taxes, gossip, backbiting, mechanical failures, broken promises… the list goes on and on, we are not always going to be fully encouraged, fully comforted by his love, fully sharing in the Spirit and always full of tenderness and compassion. Paul tells us if we have ANY of these then we are blessed and should love others as Jesus does. This is only possible if we are trusting in HIM and know that he will take our five loaves of effort and two fish of ability and multiply them in service to others.
Prayer – Lord Jesus, I pray that I would focus on the glass half full of encouragement, comfort, sharing in the Spirit, tenderness and compassion today rather than spend two seconds on why it isn’t full so I can fulfill your command to love my clients, family, friends and enemies. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 