FOR JULY 9 : A CHURCH THAT CARES

[cimi]

July 9
Wednesday

A CHURCH
THAT CARES

READ:
Philippians 2:1-11
_____________________________________

Let each of you look
out not only for his own
interests, but also for
the interests of others.
__Philippians 2:1-11
_____________________________________

While traveling together, my wife and I started talking with a delightful young woman we met. The time passed quickly as we chatted about lighthearted topics.

But when she heard that I was a minister, the conversation took a heart-wrenching turn. She began to share with us that when her husband left her only a few months earlier, she had struggled with the pain of that abandonment.

Then she smiled and said, "I can't tell you how much my church has meant to me these past months." Her mood and countenance changed dramatically as she recounted the ways her church family had wrapped their loving arms around her in her season of heartache. It was refreshing to hear how that local assembly had surrounded her with the love of Christ.

Far too often, it seems, we limit the significance of church to what happens on Sunday. But the church is to be so much more. It is to be a safe haven, a rescue station, a training center for spiritual service. It is particularly to be an expression of the concerned heart of the Lord for hurting, broken people, such as our young friend.

We are to "love one another," John the disciple reminded us, "for love is of God" (1 John 4:7). __Bill Crowder
_____________________________________________________________

````````````````````It was only a brief little note,`````````````````
````````````````Or a word that was prayerfully spoken,`````````````
````````````````Yet not in vain, for it soothed the pain``````````````
``````````````Of a heart that was nearly broken. __Anon.``````````
_____________________________________________________________

Hope can be ignited by a spark of encouragement.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 2:1-11*********

1 Therefore if there is any
consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if
any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being
like-minded, having the
same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. 3 Let
nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better
than himself. 4 Let each of
you look out not only for
his own interests, but also
for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, being in the
form of God, did not
consider it robbery to be
equal with God, 7 but made
Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in
the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled
Himself and became
obedient to the point of
death, even the death of the
cross. 9 Therefore God also
has highly exalted Him and
given Him the name which
is above every name, 10 that
at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of those
in heaven, and of those on
earth and of those under
the earth, 11 and that every
tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Paul's encouragement to the church at Philippi has two significant
features. He begins by describing for the church all that their hearts
should be so that they can minister in Christ's name (vv.1-4). He
then takes it even further by showing them the ways Christ Himself
displayed those same traits and qualities (vv.5-11). __Bill Crowder