Tuesday - He Did It First

Philippians 2:1 - If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Before we can have true unity, we have to understand why we want it. In this one verse, Paul gives four reasons. The little word "if" could be translated "since" or "because." Paul isn't wondering whether these things are true. He's reminding us that they are.

Because Christ encourages us.

The word consolation means "coming alongside another to encourage and help." Picture running a marathon. Your legs are done. Somebody waving a foam finger on the sidelines helps a little. But imagine someone runs up beside you and says, "Come on. Let's make it to the next corner together."

That's what Christ does for you. When you're worn out, He's right there with you. And if Christ never gives up on you, we can't give up on each other.

Because Christ loves us.

Comfort of love speaks of gentle, comforting words – the kind you say with your arm around someone who's hurting. Christ speaks His love to us through His Word. Nothing can separate us from it (Romans 8:38–39). It passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: – I John 3:1

And yet here I am, ready to pull away from somebody because they said one thing that bothered me. Christ never pulls away from me, even when I fail Him. So, I can't pull away from you when you hurt me.

Because we share the same Spirit.

Fellowship means "to share something in common," like partners in a business. What we share is the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who lives in you lives in me. That means we don't have to create unity – the Spirit already gave it to us. Our job is to keep it.

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:3

Out in the world, some people go together like oil and water. But if the same Spirit lives in both of us, we're partners, not opponents.

Because Christ shows us compassion.

"Bowels and mercies" sounds strange to us, but the word means your insides – your gut. It's the deepest kind of feeling, and that's how Christ feels toward you.

Have you ever been frustrated with someone, then found out what they were going through? Suddenly your heart softened. Even when we don't know the whole story, we can choose to be tenderhearted.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:32

Unity is how we say "thank You."

Encouragement. Love. Fellowship. Compassion. Every one of those is something God did for us first. So the primary motivation for unity is gratitude. When we treat each other the way Christ has treated us, we're saying "thank You" to God.

Who can you come alongside today?