JULY 21

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES:

NAMES FOR GOD:

HUIOS TOU THEOU—SON OF GOD

EL NAKAMOTH—GOD WHO AVENGES

EL NOSE—GOD WHO FORGIVES

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This month we will read the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

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Philippians 2:1-5

“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

UNITY

Paul went on to say in verse 2 that, since we have these resources of the triune God, we should be “like-minded” (of one mind), having the same love, being one in Spirit and one in mind.”

This doesn’t mean we all have the same opinions about everything.  It means that, since we have the same opinions about the essential things, we can have more patience with the nonessential.  The great British pastor and hymnist John Newton put it all together like this:

“May the grace of Christ our Savior, and the Father’s boundless love, with the Holy Spirit’s favor, rest upon us from above.

Thus may we abide in union, with each other and the Lord, and possess in sweet communion, joys which earth cannot afford.”

It often confuses people when they discover that Christian homes, families, churches, schools, mission agencies, and organizations are full of people who have trouble getting along with each other.  It’s a problem that goes all the way back to the bickering of the disciples in the gospels and to the arguments between Paul and Barnabas in the book of Acts.

There are two reasons for it.  First, Christians are people of deep convictions.  We’re committed to what we know and believe.  Second, we are a diverse group of people.  In every church, for example, people come from different backgrounds with different levels of maturity and with diverse opinions.  Not every believer is spiritually mature.  Some are babes in Christ while others who think they are mature are truly not.

Having an encouraging, cooperative spirit is always much better.

HUMILITY

But that requires something.  It requires us to learn to be humble.  Paul went on to say in verses 3 and 4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility, consider others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

This is Paul’s version of the golden rule that Jesus gave us.  Love is being more concerned about someone else’s needs than about your own.

The easiest way to become a humble person is to begin acting like one.  I don’t mean to do it artificially.  Nor do I mean to run yourself down and adopt or develop an inferiority complex – that’s not humility.

But humility takes practice.  If someone cuts in front of you on the highway to get into your lane, tap your brakes and let them in.  When someone wants to talk to you, give them your full attention without looking at your phone.  When you enter a building, hold the door and let the other person enter first.  Be pleasant to your server and leave a generous tip. (and a Bible tract!!!)  If you stop at the grocery store on the way home, return the shopping cart to the rack.

I read about someone who happened to see a famous man washing his hands in a public restroom.  He was amazed that the man took pains to use paper towels to clean up the sink and dry off the counter before he left.

My favorite quote about humility is this one that I wrote down in my notebook in college: 

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It’s not thinking of yourself at all – and of Jesus more and more.”

My friends – since we have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, since we’ve been electrified and energized, since we’ve gotten light and warmth and power – let’s be tender and compassionate to one another in our homes, churches and communities. 

Let’s be like-minded and of one heart and spirit.  Let’s do nothing through selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in lowliness of mind be more concerned about the other person than ourselves.

Let’s have the mind of Christ.

On this hostile earth, the King’s kids need to stick together!

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