Different Part 2

Different - Making the most of our differences (Part 2) Philippians 2:1-16 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Relationships, more than anything else are the refining fires that God uses to MATURE us to be more like Him. SELFISHNESS (preferring self) is hurtful and divisive. HUMILITY is the “making low” of one’s self. God wants us to VALUE and be valued by one another. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! LOVE is demonstrated when we lay aside our own wants and interests and serve others. Love is SACRIFICIAL. Love is MORE than WORDS. This is more about YOU than THEM. This is a CHOICE to value and honor or not. 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. When we humble ourselves, God EXALTS us. You must decide who is in CHARGE of your relationship. When Jesus is LORD over our relationships, we experience all the fullness and soundness that He brings.