Philippians 2:1-11

One of my favorite passages in the Bible!

Think about Paul's challenge in verse 1...IF you have found encouragement in Christ...IF you have found comfort in his love...IF you have experience connection to the Spirit...affection...sympathy....IF you have experienced any of these things it should change the way you live you life. And Paul is a great communicator...he knows that you have experienced these things...he knows that you have been touched by the infinite wonders of a relationship with Jesus Christ. And so he challenges each of us...if this faith you claim means anything to you - SEEK UNITY! Christian should be driven by the love that has been poured out on them from above...by the forgiveness that has been offered to them...by the purpose that has been given to them, to love one another. To do everything they can to have pure authentic community with fellow Christians and to do everything they can to bring people outside of the faith into that community!

But what about the things they said to me? But what about the ways that they hurt me? She gossiped about me! He lied to me! I can't stand them! I hate to break it to you...but it's not really about you. As much as we want it to be...the universe does not revolve around us...certainly the Kingdom of God does not revolve around us. And if we want to be a part of the incredible things that God is doing...if we want to continue to walk side by side with our incredible savior...then we are commanded to seek unity at all cost. We have all been hurt...we have all been rejected...we have all been sinned against - what does holding a grudge do to make that go away? Nothing! When we refuse to forgive, the only person we are hurting is ourselves. All we are doing is allowing the person who has hurt us to continue to have control over our lives. Paul is telling us, "If following Jesus means anything to you - then do everything you can to build unity in the Body of Christ." God knows everything about being hurt, rejected, and sinned against...He has experience all of those things by my hands...and yours. We have done all of those things to God, yet He responded to us with forgiveness and salvation. God so desperately wanted to redeem His community with us that He was willing to die for our sins!!! Maybe we can consider treating people the same way that He has treated us...by offering radical, undeserved forgiveness for the sake of community and love.

And Paul drives his point home by explaining the depth of the love of Jesus Christ...though he was in the form of God...though he was a part of the Trinity...though he was the creator and sustainer of the universe...he made himself nothing. Jesus left the glory of heaven behind and crammed himself into a man suit. He experienced weakness, suffering, hurt...he washed the feet of people he created...he was mocked and crucified by the same. God made Himself NOTHING! Read that again. Let that sink in. That is how much you are loved. If that love means anything to you...if that sacrifice means anything to you...if that forgiveness means anything to you...you will live to honor it. Are you willing to make yourself nothing for the sake of community and the sake of the Kingdom?