Philippians 2:1, 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, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind ~ Philippians 2:1, 2


Again we are encouraged by the apostle Paul to be one, to be unified. In these days of covid-19 we see a world torn apart by the disease, and not only by it, but by people living in either fear or denial and anger. The world has never been a place where all people loved everyone and had the same feelings for each other that Paul is talking about here. The world is an empty, lonely place. If it were not for Christ in our lives and heart, we would be in the same predicament as the world. Would we, if we had not Christ, offer encouragement and comfort? Well, yes, we probably would, for not everyone in the world is bereft of offering comfort and encouragement, but it would lack the hope we as Christians have in Christ’s resurrection power. What should make us different than the world is how we relate in the name of Christ, how we offer encouragement which says that our sufferings are temporary because Jesus lives and saves. What does make us different than the world is that we have an inner power which does not come from within, but from above through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of Christ. We have the ability to look upward, not around. When our soul is downcast, Christ sends us a hand up through our brothers and sisters who pray and follow His Spirit’s leading and guiding. Many times I have been downcast and a Christian brother or sister “happened” to call and bring encouragement to me. We are the body of Christ, and it is in His image we live and move. It is in His Spirit we lift each other up in love and compassion. We are one in Him and in each other.

Pastor Julia 

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