A Glimpse

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
Philippians 2:1-4

I once had someone bring these verses to me "to receive," because they thought that I needed someone in my life to point out all my flaws and short-comings. By the very act of what they did and with the attitude it was done, they were, in fact, negating their own "counsel." You can be sure, I do not need anyone but God to point out my short-comings, and he makes me fully aware of those. No one is more acutely aware of how and where I fall short in my life than me. So, to take this passage and come to someone like a Pharisee, and to use Scripture to boost ones ego, is not how the Holy Spirit intended, first of all, this passage, and secondly, Scripture itself, to be used and applied.

The word "if" in this passage, is really translated "since." Since there is consolation in Christ. Since there is comfort in love. Since there is fellowship in love. Since there is affection and mercy. Then the instruction is to be like-minded, having the same love, one accord, and of one mind. This is the instruction of the Holy Spirit to you and me today. Our brothers and sisters in the church all have faults, lots of them. And so do we. But the instruction is to love one another. The Holy Spirit teaches us this all throughout the New Testament. Love one another. Jesus said that is how the world will know that we belong to Him: by our love for one another. These days where people have the consumer mentality even about church, think that love is a feeling. "I need to feel good about church." Beloved, church is not a place where you go. Church is who you are, if you belong to Christ. The church is not a building, the church is people, who are born again. The problem with believing that the church exists for me, is that when there is a problem with someone in the fellowship, or when you get mad at the pastor, and don't "feel good" anymore, you just leave, instead of scripturally working it out.

Love isn't something you feel, love is something you do. It is staying power when you want to leave. People tell me that they love me, then leave the church. And I just say, "Oh really?" And continue on, because I am doing what Christ has called me to do: to preach the Word. Beloved, to take this passage of Scripture out of context and wield it as a weapon against someone is very wrong, and it grieves the Holy Spirit.

Today, as you walk through this world, let the world around you see the love of Christ in your life, not the petty, selfish belief of "what's in it for me." Yes, when you love people, you will be hurt. It is certain, because people are people, and not perfect. If you are looking for a place to worship where everyone smiles and everything is perfect, keep looking, because that place is called heaven, and we aren't there yet. So while we are here on earth, let us show the people around us the love of Christ, and esteem others better than ourselves. That is how the world will know that we belong to Him. And let us, beloved, not be too hard on our brothers and sisters in the church (even the pastor), because we are all human, and all make mistakes, and all fail at some point. Let us forgive one another, cherish one another, help one another, love one another. Amen? Amen.