If… // Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1-4 (MSG) | If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Today’s passage won’t let me go. Yesterday I wrote about how we are to “BE” in our relationships with God and others. This sits with me today as I reflect how being in such a relationship should change us. Those changes must be evident; therefore, we see the word “if” so prominently in passages such as the one we read today. Similarly to what we explored yesterday, if there is we undergo a spiritual change, we cannot keep living like those who do not know Jesus and keep trying to get ahead at the expense of another. Someone once said that the word, “IF,” is the biggest word in the Bible. Passages such as today’s reveal why that might just be so. How do you read it? Does it challenge you? Show you where you need to change? IF so, turn to our Lord Jesus and allow Him to lend you His nail-scarred hand in assistance.