Philippians 2:1-4
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I don’t mean to pass judgment, but there seem to be a lot of Christians who need to read this scripture passage. What does it say to others when you talk one way and act another? How do others see Jesus and His ministries when they observe people who attend church and Bible studies, share their own thoughts and opinions “in the name of Christianity – or Jesus Himself” – and then have no heart for others. What does it say about us as disciples of Christ when we have time to do things for others – friends and members of our church family – but not for our own family members?
If you have time to belong to civic and social clubs, but you can’t spare an hour to help someone who is sick, injured, or in need, this message is for you! If you are more willing to help a good friend or acquaintance than you are your own brother, sister, mother, or father, you need to read this passage again. If you can’t turn off the television for 30 minutes to talk to a friend who is hurting or write a note or e-mail message to someone who needs to know how much God cares about them (as well as you), please read these scripture verses again.
Jesus did not come to save us from our sins so that we could pick and choose how and when to serve in His name. He did not offer love, grace, mercy, comfort, healing, and hope to us, so that we could decide who deserves the same from us in return. He did not accept us unconditionally, as we are … warts and all … so that we could decide that this one or that one is beneath us or “not our kind” and choose to ignore their needs – or that the feelings of someone who doesn’t agree with our thoughts and opinions do not matter.
I pray that every single one of us will go back and read this scripture passage again. Write it out and tape it to your mirror, your refrigerator, your car dashboard, your locker … somewhere that you will see it often. Remind yourself frequently what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ … to be a “deep-spirited friend.” To do any less is downright phony and disrespectful, and does not honor your new life in Christ. Search your heart … see where you’ve gotten caught up in self-centered service, and put the spirit of Christ back into your heart and your actions. Make a difference to others by showing them the difference Christ has made for you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
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