LEARNING DAILY

Philippians 2:1-4, Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me happy by agreeing with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. (New Living Translation)

It was a great Sunday! We went to two different churches – to our Church, Community Bible Church, and to one of our daughter and son-in-law’s church, NorthRock Church. We especially enjoy going to NorthRock in November because they have what is called At the Movies. They show clips from a particular movie and have biblical teaching between the clips. It is always very well done, and I learn much from every teaching. Sunday was no different. I am amazed how God orchestrates the teaching with what has been written in the blog; of course, Sunday was no different.

The blog is written to encourage Believers to walk the very best they can as they walk the narrow way. Pastor Jonathon Moore stated, “For change to take place, one must want change to take place.” The verses from Philippians ask the question about our hearts being tender and sympathetic. That desire to change comes from being encouraged by Jesus Christ. There is an implication of relief experienced by the forgiveness of sins when He saves us that helps us be happy for others when they experience Christ’s forgiveness.

Change can be very difficult for some. The challenges and difficulties Jesus said would be a part of walking the narrow way can come because the old self does not want to give you up. Therefore, who we were before Jesus saved us fights against us putting on the new self; think back to the last page of the blog about Colossians 3:12-15.  “The Lord might put us in a place where we find ourselves uncomfortable in order for us to understand the need for change” (Pastor Moore). That uncomfortable place, more often than not, brings us face to face with the need to change whatever needs to be changed so we can better reflect Jesus Christ in our lives. That is a constant part of the sanctification process as we walk the narrow way into heaven. It is part of the process of becoming the person God demands we become. Yes, it might even hurt a little!

Do you want to be the person Paul wrote about above? Pastor Moore said, “If you want something different, do something different.” Paul was very clear that Believers avoid being greedy and dishonest in their dealing with others. Believers are to stop being selfish, removing the focus from themselves to thinking about the needs of others. To do that we must remove wrong motives of ambition and greed. When these thoughts are the driving force of our lives, love and unity are not our goals. Placing the needs of others is not difficult when the love of Christ reigns supreme in our lives.

Walking in this way with God is His desire and must be our goal as we walk the narrow way. Pastor Moore said, “The kingdom of God is a way of life!”  May the desire to walk as He desires be our goal each day as we look in the mirror and remind ourselves who God says you are!

What a great Sunday!