JANUARY 3, 2013
Getting
Along
Read: Philippians 2:1-11
Fulfill my joy by being
like-minded, having the same love. —Philippians 2:2
I
love being with people . . . most of the time. There is a special joy
that
resonates in our hearts when we are with people we enjoy. But
unfortunately we
are not always with those we like to be around.
Sometimes people can be
prickly, which may be why someone has said,
“The more I get to know people, the
more I love my dog!” When we
don’t find joy in a relationship, we tend to blame
the other person; then
we excuse ourselves as we exit to be with people we
like.
The
apostle Paul asks us to lovingly engage with our brothers and sisters
in
Christ. In fact, he calls all of us to be “of one accord,” to look out “for
the
interests of others,” and to “let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ
Jesus” (Phil. 2:2-5). Think about it. Jesus gave up His own
prerogatives and
privileges for us; He chose to live as a servant and paid
the ultimate sacrifice
that He might bring us into a joy-filled relationship
with Him (see Heb. 12:2).
And He did all that in spite of our prickliness
(see Rom. 5:8).
So
next time you are with someone who is not easy to get along with,
ask Jesus to
help you find a way to extend His love. In time, you might
be surprised by how
God can change your attitude about people.
Lord, thank You that while I was still offensive to You,
You saved me with Your sacrificial love. Give me the
same courage and grace to extend to others the love
that You have so graciously extended to me.
The key to getting along with others
is having the mind of Christ.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
