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Thursday... This is a season of giving but also of getting.

I do love to give but there is a responsibility in getting. 

Paul over in Philippians 2, starting in verse 1 (MSG) says, "If you gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made a 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." There is a responsibility in getting. Have you ever thought about that?

God has given us so much, so very much, hasn't He? I mean, has His love made a difference in your life, if having a relationship with His Spirit has meant anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care, Paul then says, "Then do me a favor." And that is not unreasonable, is it? I mean, after He has given us so much then there is a response that we want to give, isn't there?

Paul goes on, "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."

Now that is not unreasonable, is it? Verse 4 in the New Living Translation was what caught my attention as I was reading this morning. It says, "Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others." And this time of the year helps us in doing that. I mean, it is all about giving gifts to others. At least that is what it seems to be but too many times it is all about what we will be getting. 

But Paul reminds us that if we have gotten anything out of following Christ, then, then. And we have gotten so much, haven't we? Then we want to do what He wants, don't we? Then let's do it. Verse 5 says, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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