Tag: sympathy

28.g. “Have this mind among yourselves”

 

Philippians 2:1  So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If there is any, consolation in Christ, comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit, affection, and mercy how should we act.  In Christ, we find encouragement, reassurance, help, hope, and relief. The comfort of love. Think about when you have had a less than a loving day at work.  Everyone seems to be against everyone, you included.  At lunch, you witnessed rude and inconsiderate people. On your way home to witness angry and rude drivers.  You can not only see but you also feel the division, anger, and lack of love.  You pull into the drive, get out of your car wondering what is going on.  Has the world and everyone in it lost their minds?  Is this what life is to be like? Then you walk through the door to your home and one of your children comes running up to you, jumps into your arms, and says, “I love you”.  You turn to your spouse and they say, “Hi honey, I am so glad you’re home, I love you, How was your day?” At that moment everything is right in your life.  There is a comfort of being loved. Fellowship of the Spirit is something that should yield fruit as we yield to the guiding, power, and precious leading of the Holy Spirit.  The affection and mercy of God are something we should never lose sight of.  It should always be in the front of our minds.  We were lost and without hope, doomed to eternal hell, and then God showered us with grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.  

Paul is laying out why our lives ought to be different.  Why they ought to be victorious. Why they ought to be in unity with other believers. How we should be thinking and the effect of that thought process should form how we act, what we say, what we think.  Be mindful of how much you allow the world to rob you of living for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

119. Do not be afraid. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,

2 Samuel 10:6   When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

Numbers 13:20    Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Deuteronomy 31:6    Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua 1:6-7    Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

2 Chronicles 32:7    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.

Nehemiah 4:14    And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Hebrews 13:6    So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 Chronicles 19:13     Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.”

1 Corinthians 16:13    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

We chase after many things to comfort our fears.  In this chase and seeking hopefully we come to an end and we see the folly of it.  Who is able by their chasing after what the world has to offer has any more lasting comfort than before?  It is God who has all things in control.  It is God who has plans and purposes greater than our thoughts could ever imagine.  It is God who heals, strengthens, encourages, and gives power or not.  He gives and He takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Who is able to start or stop things God has put into motion?  The answer is no one.

Some will deny God exists and will latch onto false hopes.  Others will deny God is in control and will latch on to false hopes.  And then there are those who don’t deny God’s in control but who can’t seem to trust that He is.  Blessed is the man who with his whole heart, mind, and soul humbly severs, honors, follows, relies on, trusts in, and obeys God.  He will stand firm.  He will have courage and strength of God.  He will not fear the unknown but rather will give the outcome into the very hands of Jesus and find refuge, hope, peace and rest.

3. Eager to maintain the unity

1Corinthians 1:10  I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Ephesians 4:1-7     I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:31-32     Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Psalms 133:1    Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

1 Peter 3:8-9    Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Romans 12:16     Live in harmony with one another.

1 Corinthians 6:7  Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you). Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due? Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)?

I heard on the Back to the Bible radio “Unity is something you keep”.  We are to be the light shinning in a dark world.  We are to show hope, love, generosity, kindness, faith, peace, long-suffering, and patience.  How is this shown when there is division amongst those who are to show the world what righteous, holy, humble, God honoring living looks like?

Division comes from an issue that is hammered out in pride not love.  Division leads to gossip, rumors, and non-love actions.  Division is a tool of Satan and the problem is most of the time he does not even have to use it because of a prideful spirit lodged within the person.  Think about when the Israelites were in the wilderness and scripture tells us the people grumbled against God.  You have to realize that there was a first person who spoke up and many who then followed.  The same happens when division occurs.  A person speaks up in a manner that does not reflect our calling in Christ and others follow.

Do you ever wonder why others follow?  Does it have anything to do with their walk, or lack there of, with God?  Does it have anything to do with there time, or lack there of, in Gods word?

Oh that we would take the path of humbleness, allowing our selves to be wronged, seeking unity in peace and love, finding a way to honor God in the circumstance, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.  As far as is it is with you be at peace with all men.

Obedience to the Truth

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

John 15:11  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Isaiah 53:11     Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Jeremiah 33:9    And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

1 John 1:4     And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 Peter 1:8     Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Romans 12:10     Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Ephesians 5:2    And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 Peter 1:22     Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 Peter 3:8     Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Obedience to the truth is fundamental for us to continue on a path that honors God.  Where do we find truth and once you find it what good is it?  Jesus Christ is truth – “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through Christ we are saved and not of our own works  but by His grace, mercy and love.  When this truth is believed redemption, salvation and new life are born.  – “you are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself ” – “He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.” – “he will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” – “my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation” – “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. … You are my shelter and my shield” – “I will be glad in the Lord, my joy will be in the God of my salvation” – “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”  spend time in His word and learn of His love, purpose and plan for your life.  Humbly serve, honor, glorify, rely on, cling to, trust in, follow and obey. 

 

 

Love one another

“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

John 13:34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12-13     “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Acts 4:32     Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.  And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold  and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

1 John 2:5     but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him

1 John 2:10     Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Galatians 6:2     Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Leviticus 19:18     You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Romans 12:10     Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

1 Peter 1:22     Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 Corinthians 13:4     Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Philippians 2:1     So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Reread this again.  What is God revealing to your heart?  If this is what love looks like lived out where do I fall short? How do I recognize these shortcomings?  How do I put them into practice?  What are those triggers in my life that seem to take me down paths contrary to the principles of love?  Pride, selfishness, greed, self honor, impatience, lack of sympathy, self centeredness, “ME” – “MYSELF” – “I”……. I am instructed to keep my eyes focused on Christ and His example, sharing the burdens of others, allowing myself to be wronged, seeking to keep unity, and doing this for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.  This is very contrary to the sinful nature.  When my focus is on me I soon lose sight of Christ’s love.  Even if I stay in His word and seek to honor Him, if I’m not continuously conscious of demonstrating love it is easy to let that sinful nature of me, myself and I to hinder any effect I might have to honor and glorify Jesus.  Practice the love of Christ each day.  Ask Jesus to fill you with His love and lead you down paths giving opportunity to demonstrate it.