Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  

Philippians 2:1b-2, 4-5 (NLT)

 

I needed to hear the above from the apostle Paul this morning. My heart has not been tender and compassionate lately. In fact, it has contained a lot of bitterness.

Lord, I don’t like being this way! I want and need your peace! But agreeing wholeheartedly with others and working together with them? That I’m just not able to do unless I truly know they were sent by you.

Lord! It’s only your word I want to listen to. I want to hear your heart speak into mine. I want your Spirit within. How else can I serve in all honesty? What better reason to live than to give ourselves to others through you? Show us your love and help us share it with those who need it. Give us your wisdom and understanding. Give us your humility.

Humility. That’s what I most love about Jesus. And although friends would not always say I’m humble, I have a heart-felt desire to be that way. Isn’t walking humbly a big part of what it means to follow Jesus?

Can I share a bit more from Philippians? This time verses 5-8 in the NIV version. Such a beautiful description of the Jesus I’d like to walk with. Would you like to come and join him with me?

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

 

Lord,

Some are made to feel unworthy by those who are not yours. It hurts. But you, Lord, understand. You too received such treatment. Is this a part of what we’re called to when we follow you? Is that what obedience calls us to?

How you must have suffered, Lord! …And I’ve come to know a little of your pain.

marja