The Same Mind Be In You

That Was In Christ Jesus

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be 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 regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11

We have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We get to know Him through reading the Bible and in going to church. Church can mean a lot when you are in need. Our church families wrap their arms around us in our own times of need.

Far too often it seems we limit the significance of church to what happens on Sunday, but the church is to be so much more. It is to be a safe haven, a rescue station, and a training center for spiritual service, The church is to be many things, but it is particularly to be an expression of the concerned heart of the Lord of the church for hurting, broken people.

Hope can be ignited by a spark of encouragement.

Our Daily Bread – July 9, 2008