Good morning!
Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,
who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!
This is often on my heart and is on my heart today.
Relationships. I am prompted to this thinking as I see the constant change in the world, people moving from one season to another, some moving closer to Christ and others walking away from His love. I think that scripture makes it clear, relationships are more important than anything else in our lives. It starts with the most important relationship we have – with God, specifically through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, through which our relationship with the Father has been saved – for eternity.
In Jesus Christ, all of our relationships are redeemed and are being sanctified as we live for Jesus - our relationship with God, with ourselves, with others and with creation - all being renewed.
We are called often in scripture to take this understanding into our relationships that are a part of this world. Philippians 2:3-8 frames it so well – value each other above yourselves – have the same way of thinking about relationships with each other as Christ did…
This kind of thinking should become normal for us, and especially for anyone reading this email who has a call on their life that is from God that they have answered yes to. For me I am feeling especially cognizant of this today as I look at and consider my relationships in this ever changing world knowing eternal relationships are anchored in our Savior Christ Jesus. I / we must value each person we meet, each child we meet above ourselves – in the same way Christ and therefore our Father loves and cares for them.
God blessed me by bringing me to Feed My Starving Children and during my time there, His hand was the hand that created each connection, each relationship here that becomes a part of the fabric of that season of my life.
Now in "retirement" God's hand is touching, creating and redeeming new relationships, that when those relationships bear fruit, he will get the glory.
I am richer in my life and in my life in Christ, because God felt it was important that for a little while, some of you had your life and my life connected – even if it wasn’t often, or seemingly significant when we did interact.
So I am grateful that I know you.
For those of you that I do not know reading this, God may connect us and if that happens, I pray God's purposes are served in our knowing each other.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that to remember always –our relationships with each other and ours with other people will truly reflect the Light of Christ! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,
who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!
This is often on my heart and is on my heart today.
Relationships. I am prompted to this thinking as I see the constant change in the world, people moving from one season to another, some moving closer to Christ and others walking away from His love. I think that scripture makes it clear, relationships are more important than anything else in our lives. It starts with the most important relationship we have – with God, specifically through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, through which our relationship with the Father has been saved – for eternity.
In Jesus Christ, all of our relationships are redeemed and are being sanctified as we live for Jesus - our relationship with God, with ourselves, with others and with creation - all being renewed.
We are called often in scripture to take this understanding into our relationships that are a part of this world. Philippians 2:3-8 frames it so well – value each other above yourselves – have the same way of thinking about relationships with each other as Christ did…
This kind of thinking should become normal for us, and especially for anyone reading this email who has a call on their life that is from God that they have answered yes to. For me I am feeling especially cognizant of this today as I look at and consider my relationships in this ever changing world knowing eternal relationships are anchored in our Savior Christ Jesus. I / we must value each person we meet, each child we meet above ourselves – in the same way Christ and therefore our Father loves and cares for them.
God blessed me by bringing me to Feed My Starving Children and during my time there, His hand was the hand that created each connection, each relationship here that becomes a part of the fabric of that season of my life.
Now in "retirement" God's hand is touching, creating and redeeming new relationships, that when those relationships bear fruit, he will get the glory.
I am richer in my life and in my life in Christ, because God felt it was important that for a little while, some of you had your life and my life connected – even if it wasn’t often, or seemingly significant when we did interact.
So I am grateful that I know you.
For those of you that I do not know reading this, God may connect us and if that happens, I pray God's purposes are served in our knowing each other.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that to remember always –our relationships with each other and ours with other people will truly reflect the Light of Christ! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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