36 - Connecting w/ God
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 36 | CONNECTING WITH OUR “SIBLINGS”
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 36 | CONNECTING WITH OUR “SIBLINGS”
CONNECTING WITH OUR “SIBLINGS”
Philippians 2:1-2
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (NLT)
It’s often hard to comprehend that when we come to Christ and become one of His children that we immediately have other “siblings” who are also part of God’s family (and HIS family is huge)!
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)
When we join a local church, we acknowledge our desire to connect with our other “brothers and sisters in Christ” who are a part of that local church. This makes a lot of sense since we can’t love and minister to over 2 billion Christians in the world… but we can to a small group of them.
So, similar to when we were given “chores” to do around the house when we were growing up, joining God’s family obligates us to also do some “chores” to help serve His family in our local church. Joining His family is a free gift from God, but it comes with some responsibilities – some “one-anothers” – too.
Paul – via the Spirit – enumerates some of those “right attitudes” and “chores” here. God knew (and shared that insight with Paul) that, just like brothers and sisters in a family don’t always get along, the same happens sometimes in God’s family.
Paul pours out his heart with these verses, with first reminding them (and US) of ALL they have received from the Lord (encouragement, comfort, fellowship, compassion) and then urging them to be in agreement, in love and work together with one mind and purpose.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that I am to interact with my church family and stay in agreement, in love and work together with one mind and purpose and that is YOURS. Amen.
Philippians 2:1-2
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (NLT)
It’s often hard to comprehend that when we come to Christ and become one of His children that we immediately have other “siblings” who are also part of God’s family (and HIS family is huge)!
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)
When we join a local church, we acknowledge our desire to connect with our other “brothers and sisters in Christ” who are a part of that local church. This makes a lot of sense since we can’t love and minister to over 2 billion Christians in the world… but we can to a small group of them.
So, similar to when we were given “chores” to do around the house when we were growing up, joining God’s family obligates us to also do some “chores” to help serve His family in our local church. Joining His family is a free gift from God, but it comes with some responsibilities – some “one-anothers” – too.
Paul – via the Spirit – enumerates some of those “right attitudes” and “chores” here. God knew (and shared that insight with Paul) that, just like brothers and sisters in a family don’t always get along, the same happens sometimes in God’s family.
Paul pours out his heart with these verses, with first reminding them (and US) of ALL they have received from the Lord (encouragement, comfort, fellowship, compassion) and then urging them to be in agreement, in love and work together with one mind and purpose.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that I am to interact with my church family and stay in agreement, in love and work together with one mind and purpose and that is YOURS. Amen.
Posted in Connecting w/ God