1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. 3Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
I will never forget one of my Sunday School Teachers. I was in the seventh grade and attended a rather small church. I longed to go to a big church with a big youth group. That did happen later but for that season in my life I didn't have any big church events to look forward to, just Sunday School. But it was during that time that I learned so much from my Sunday School teacher, Bill. He had some difficult things happening in his life but you would never know it. Bill always smiled, always raised his hands in worship. He loved the Lord like no one I had ever seen. Bill was agreeable, humble and always thought of others instead of himself. He was Italian and grew up making these amazing Italian cookies. It was his family's tradition during the Holidays and special occasions. The cookies looked like short little twists with some kind of icing and sprinkles on top. These cookies were divine! He knew how much I loved them so whenever he made them for his kids and wife, he always brought me a few wrapped up in a piece of tin foil. He cared about each on of us in that Sunday School class and he prayed for us diligently. Unfortunately I have not met very many Christians like him. Instead I have met a whole lot of defeated, complaining, whining Christians. Lord, please give me a spirit like Brother Bill.
5Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7He made himself nothing;[a] he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.
I feel convicted when I read this verse. My attitude does not always reflect Jesus. It's not important for me to demand my rights. Someone may have done me wrong but if I take on the attitude of Jesus, it won't really matter.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
All of these people that follow Scientology, or study Kabbalah, they will someday bow and confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
14In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, 15so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.
I am a huge fan of the show Survivor. The person that usually gets kicked off first is the one that tells everyone they are a Christian. They don't get voted off because they are a Christ follower. Instead they are voted off because they complain and argue. Why is it that the Christ follower gets into trouble with their mouth so easily? A lot of us don't tap in to our power source. We are bossy, demanding and treat others rudely. I was once having dinner with someone I thought was a strong Christian. This person was a Pastor so I did not expect him to be so rude to the waitress. He never said please, never said thank you. He complained constantly.
This chapter gives us directions on how to live daily. If we don't live this way, Christ cannot and will not be seen in our lives.
6 comments:
I read. It was great but I don't have time to post anything on it right now.
I'm getting prepared for a girls bible study that my friend and I are doing for the summer. It starts in the morning. So if everyone could keep that in your prayers that would be awesome.
Thanks!!
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I love the visual image I get when I think of this moment. EVERYONE bowing before the throne. Dropping to their knees at the name of Jesus. God receiving His due Glory. It also saddens me to think that it will be only at this moment and not before. God so desires our respect and honor. Even as Christ followers we often fail to give it to him.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
ALL THINGS, that's what it says. Do all things without murmurings and disputings. Hmmm. If it says all things it also means with all people. I am really quite nice with others. The one that gets my murmurings are my hubby and horrible drivers. One more thing to work on.
I have, at times, clug to verses 10 and 11 throughout school. I was unpopular. People constantly made fun of me because they could see that I was different -- language, attitude, dress, etc. They knew I was a christian. I just wish now that I would've prayed for them then and spoken with boldness the message of Christ over them. v 14 and 15: I have to think about how my kids look at situations. Over the weekend, my DH overheard my DD curse (the "d" word) when she was frustrated about something. I was upset and wanted to discipline, but my DH reminded me that she had only repeated what she had heard (NOT from us, mind you) around our apt. complex, and that we just need to tell her why its naughty for her to speak that way. Sometimes we get caught up with the things going on in this world so much, we don't realize that we have a choice about it and we can block it out. By turning off the tv more often and filling our hearts and minds with the attitude of Christ. I have been trying to do this more as of lately and as a result, have felt much more at peace. Not an easy thing to do, as it takes a lot of prayer and determination, but well worth it.
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
I have a post-it of this scripture on my desk, as a daily reminder.
I have been on a quest so to speak and had asked many to define the Trinity, per the prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT. One response asked me why I was doing this and I told him. He then replied with this quote,
"JW are characteristic of most cults; they do their best to sound like the Christian faith as much as possible during the “sales pitch” but with some digging and good questions you find that they all stumble on exactly what scripture says they’ll stumble on, the divinity of Christ. They will bow to him, pray to him, reverence him and thank him for his sacrifice on the cross, but they won’t call him Lord. Scripture, however declares that in the end EVERY knee WILL bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" -Darren Fether
It was just the thought I needed when I needed it. Then I needed to find the verse. What a great GOD we serve. Vs 10 & 11 Thank YOU LORD.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
This REALLY speaks to me. Often I find myself really depressed and clinging to my emotions and then God snatches me out of the mire.
If He hadn't given me the strength I'd still be indulging in sin.
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