Lord Jesus, this passage (Phil. 2:1-4) should become a daily oasis to us. For it welcomes and nourishes us. Then us into life as your beloved, called to love others as you love us.
Phil. 2:1 – “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ” – What encouragement do we receive through our union with you? To start with, we are fully known and deeply loved—forgiven, justified, and adopted by Abba, Father. Staying experientially alive to these 3 grace-realities would change everything, Jesus. Help us, free us. But there’s so much more.
“if any comfort from his love” – How do you comfort us with your love? By your love’s quality, depth, and constancy. No one loves us like you do, Jesus. You comfort us in our grief, fears, and pain; and when we lose our grip, way, and hope. This very weekend, some of us are desperate for your love’s comfort.
“if any fellowship with the Spirit, tenderness, and compassion” – Your Spirit has sealed us for eternity and now indwells us permanently. He is constantly telling us of your beauty, glory, and compassion; and our belovedness and “sonship” (Rom. 8:16). Increase our capacity and tenacity to listen to the Spirit more than any other voice.
Phil. 2:2-4 – “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.”
As you love us, you have called us to love those around us—those who are easy to love, and those even you call “enemy” (Matt. 5:43-48). Dear Jesus, apart from the riches of grace and the power of your Spirit, this way of life is laughable—even impossible. Help us, Lord. Grant us wisdom. Free us from our excuses. Keep us SO alive to your love for us. There’s no other way. So Very Amen.
