okay, finally.  I’ve been wanting to continue this thread– this topic won’t leave me alone!

but first, more important things: for those who are eagerly following along, I updated the Baby page, as we have our first PICTURE!!!  WOO! Check it out!

What else is necessary for unity?  Humility.

Ah, that crush to the carnal nature we all struggle with: humilty [if you haven’t read my first blog on Humility, check it out here].  I don’t think anyone is “naturally” humble.  We are all born with a lean towards making ourselves into the center of our attention, “self-gods”, kind of.  What dictates what we do?  Our self.  Who tells us what we should do?  Our self.  Who has the final say in pretty much everything?  Our self… you get the point.  Even those who would claim to serve God, in the final analysis probably are led more by self than by God or his directions. 

But, all is not lost.  We’ve been given an amazing example:  Jesus Christ.  Though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor, so that though His poverty, we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).  The One who could have and should have been worshipped and followed came to earth to serve, emptied out everything, to give us everything.  Amazing!  The Greater serving the lesser, making them.. Great! 

Why?  Love.  He was so committed to love us, to show us His love, to captivate us with His affection, He would go to any length.  Really, it should have been us, trying to go to any length to show love and affection and commitment to Him: the One who holds eternity, and is worthy to be served by every human being (one day, He will be!)!  But, He turned the tables, did what we would never do– bowed low, the Uncreated One, serving those He created.  It’s completely unthinkable, yet true.  “Here is love, vast as the ocean . . . . ”     

If we’ve truly been touched by Him and this truth…

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. . . [Philippians 2:1-5]

If we’ve been touched with the reality of Christ, the natural end will be that we should be (or eagerly desire to be) “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose”.  How do we come to a place where we operate in a oneness of spirit and purpose?  It is when we don’t seek our own gain and do only what we think is important and excites us, but consider others BETTER than us. 

C’mon, how often do you look at your neighbor and say to yourself, “they’re better than me; I should treat them with more honor and value than I do myself”?  But, that’s exactly how we should approach our relationships with one another!  It’s easier said and though than done, I know.  But, in God’s eyes, the way for me to be truly be great, is to get down on my knees and do whatever I can to make YOU great!  It’s what Jesus did.  Am I better than Him?