“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, 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.” Phil.2:1-4
Lord Jesus, this might be the most glorious, important, and transforming passage on our relationships in the whole Bible. For it doesn’t just give us our identity but our actuality as those who know you. Actuality is at least 10,000 times more important than identity.
I can identify as a “trout fisherman” by owning a closet full of Orvis clothing, have 7 bamboo fly fishing rods and a plethora of flies to catch every known species of trout—even have a tattoo of a Rainbow Trout on my arm AND YET have never fished and have never caught a single trout.
So, what is actually true about us through our union with you, Jesus? And how does it encourage us? To start with, we are totally forgiven, 100% justified, and legally adopted as Abba’s beloved children—fully known and fully loved. Hallelujah and thank you. Nothing could be more encouraging.
How does your love comfort us, Jesus? Like no one and nothing else—for you care for us in our grief and fears—in our loses and “crosses.” Your Spirit has sealed us for eternity and now lives inside us—deepening our intimacy with Abba, making us more like you, and assuring us of eternal life. We offer another big Hallelujah!
Where does all this grace and love take us? As objects of your affection, we are actually called to live as conduits of your kindness. Indeed Jesus, you gave us a new commandment, not an antiquated old suggestion. We are to love others as you love us—your grace to us, your grace through us; your comfort for us, your comfort through us. May it actually be so, Jesus, all the way Home. So Very Amen.
