Brothers and Sisters

Last week, as we looked at Philippians1, I ended the devotional with these words:

“The more we do our part to allow Jesus to continue the good work in us, we’ll see the good in others. We’ll be able to move beyond any differing opinions we have, and in unity, we’ll fight together for the faith. And that’s the Good News!”

Living in unity? What exactly does it look like? In Chapter 2 of Philippians, Paul gives us instructions on how we should treat fellow followers of Christ. Philippians 2:5-11:

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! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:5-11

When I think about that passage, I have to ask, “Do I have the same mindset as Jesus?” “Mindset” means the way I think, the way I act. Am I humble? Do I serve people? I would be lying if I said I have mastered the mindset of Jesus! If we read on, in verses 12b and 13, Paul tells us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

That does not mean we have to work for our salvation! It does mean to continue to work it out - act on what Jesus did, that process of being set apart as holy. Verse 14:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

- Philippians 2:14

Ken would be the first to say I occasionally grumble. How about you? How has your week been with the kids? With your spouse? Coworkers? Friends? Anyone have an argument? Paul is showing us how we should represent Jesus! I hear more often, especially in younger generations, that if the example of a Christian is what they see in how people “claiming to be Christians” lash out and treat one another, no thanks!

Friends, we all (myself included) have work to do. Maybe we don’t say it out loud in a room. But we flood social media with opinions labeled as “truth” or judge people that don’t look like or act like us. Unless we change how we act and take the first step to stop criticizing and condemning one another, this warped and crooked generation won’t find Jesus! Let’s work together in unity to stop grumbling and complaining and instead take steps to change our mindset.

Let’s see one another through Jesus’ eyes!

Pastor Pam

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