GPS Guide – November 15, 2019
FIRSTFRUITS – OUR BEST
Friday
Read: Philippians 2:1-4
” 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ” (Philippians 2:1-4)
Study: Words like these, calling us to live in mutual love that begins in God’s eternal love, can sound so poetic and idealistic—and so divorced from real life. Paul wasn’t writing poetry, however. Philippians 4:2-3 shows that this church faced a real conflict, with two influential women strongly at odds. Paul invited them (and their supporters) to actually live out God’s love. Paul said it is Christ’s love and the Spirit’s presence that grow the kind of love he called the Philippians to live out (verse 1). How can this God-given love turn “win/lose” conflicts toward the promise of “win/win” outcomes? What has to happen in us so that we see stronger relationships as a bigger “win” than always getting our way?
Prayer: Lord, let me see things the way you do. Your love calls me to build relationships that focus on you. Amen.