Philippians 2:1,2 -- If There Is...

{Philippians 2:1} If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affections and compassions,
{Philippians 2:2} make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. -- RLIV.

WHAT exhortations these are to unity, peace, brotherly kindness! How they suggest to us patience, forbearance, gentleness, helpfulness and comfort one toward another in the church; that thus the Spirit of Jehovah may abound in all, that each may make the greatest possible progress in the right way. Dear brethren and sisters, let us more and more be worthy of the name of Barnabas -- Comforter of the brethren. Let us have the Holy Spirit abounding in us more and more, for this is Jehovah's good pleasure; that with it dwelling in us richly we may be all sons and daughters of comfort in Zion, representatives of our Father, and channels of the Holy Spirit, as well as of the Truth. -- Based on excerpt from "Sons and Daughters of Consolation", Watch Tower, October 1, 1904.

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The apostle speaks of encouragement in Christ, the Anointed of Jehovah. Jesus is the one whom God has sent to reconcile us to God, but he is also our exemplar. His words as recorded in the Bible are certainly words of encouragement to any child of God. Not only this, but his actions of love and his fidelity towards God should give us encouragement to imitate him.

Then the apostle speaks of consolation of love. God's love for us has proven to be very great. He sent His only-begotten Son to die for us. Not only that, His love is displayed in what he has provided for us while in this age, whether it be little or much. To whatever degree that we are submissive to the leading of His Spirit, he will lead us in the ways of righteousness.

Our fellowship of the spirit appears to refer to our guidance by means of God's Holy Spirit. Such guidance leads to cultivating the fruits of the spirit in our lives. Or, it could be referring our fellowship with each other as guided by God's Holy Spirit. Even this, however, would be a display of the fruits of the spirit in our fellowship with each other. 

Regardless, such would lead one to be compassionate and patient with fellow believers in the Lord Jesus, and even more so toward our brethren who may not see this or that application of scripture exactly as we think it should be seen. In all instances, we should endeavor to provide a word of encouragement in harmony with love.

Some point to Philippians 2:2 to justify this or that sectarian leadership as being an authority by which all should become like-minded in every detail of scripture. Actually, such leads one away from what Paul was writing about into the very kind of pride of sectarianism that Paul elsewhere spoke against.

1 John 4:18 - No Fear in Love

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts off fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. -- John 4:18, Restoration Light Improved Version.

1 John 3:14,16 - We Love the Brothers

1 John 3:14 -  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn't love his brother remains in death. 

1 John 3:16 -  By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  -- World English.

Here we have the basis for knowing that we have been justified and no longer under the condemnation of death through Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) Do we have love for our brothers who also love God and the Lord Jesus? Are we willing to lay down our lives for our brothers in Christ, irrespective of color of skin, nationality, or even sectarian ties? While we may have love for our brothers in Christ, we may fall short in this love due to various inclinations of the flesh to restrict such love along carnal lines of thinking. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Galatians 3:28) We should certainly pray for our Heavenly Father to grant us strength and understanding so as to overcome such restrictions.  -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Related:

Daily Heavenly Manna for March 16 * BSM Aids * Video

Because We Love the Brethren

Loving the Brethren

In Consideration of Love

Hebrews 6:10 - Labor of Love Rewarded

Hebrews 6:10 - For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  -- New King James Version.

NO child of Jehovah should be content to let the days of the present harvest time go by with their golden opportunities for service and co-operation without seeking each day to lift the royal banner himself, and to publicly show forth the praises of Him who hath called him out of darkness into light, or without assisting and co-operating with others whom Jehovah in His providence has placed in more advantageous positions for public service. -- Adapted excerpt from: "Baptism Unto Repentance Not Baptism Into Christ." Z.'03-59 R3152:3

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God is Not Unrighteous

God is not unjust; unlike man who has been made crooked, Jehovah remains loyal to His Word. Due to the fallen condition of man, we may easily forget the labors of love our brothers in Christ perform for us. This is not so with our Heavenly Father. He does not forget, and will not fail to reward those who do perform labors of love towards fellow believers in Christ. God's "name" is closely tied with his justice, love, wisdom and power. God is just, and what he promises will come true. 

It is God who rewards His children for their service to Him through Christ. While we should aid our brothers in Christ, the full judgment is not left up to any of us who belong to Christ during this age. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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Labor of love

The motivation behind our labor should be: love for God, His Son, our brothers, and for our neighbors in the world. We should want to bring honor to the name of our Heavenly Father, not just in preaching truths to others, but also in every manner of labor that we do, especially that which we do for the "saints", those consecrated to Jehovah and His Son. We are assured that God does not forget our work for Him, so whatever we may do to honor his name to the best of our ability and circumstances, we know that it will be rewarded in the Kingdom.

There is a danger in performing works on behalf of the saints in that we may develop an inclination to seek our reward from them. This could lead to disappointment and discouragement, since our brothers in Christ may not give us the praise and/or "reward" as we may have expected. Or their praise could lead to pride of self, so we begin to think more of self than we should. Thus, we should guard our motives in whatever work we may do on behalf of our brothers in Christ, for if we labor with the wrong motive, we will be judged by God through Christ accordingly. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

Related Scriptures:

Proverbs 14:31

Proverbs 22:9

Proverbs 28:27

Proverbs 31:20;

Matthew 10:40-42

Matthew 18:5, 6

Acts 11:29\

Acts 24:17

Romans 12:13

Romans 15:25,26

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

2 Corinthians 8,9

Galatians 5:13

1 Thessalonians 1:3
1 Thessalonians 1:6,7

2 Timothy 1: 18

1 John 3:17

1 John 3:18

Related Online:

The Labor of Love to be Rewarded

Preparing for Graduation

Labor's Love Rewarded

She Hath Done What She Could (Poem)

03-07 - 1 John 4:12 - Love One Another

1 John 4:12 -  If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. -- World English.

While this verse is often read to mean to love fellow believers in Christ, it may have a broader application, that is, that we should love all others, whether in Christ or of the world. (Luke 6:27-36) And yet it is a love that is first of all a love for God, in harmony with appreciation of His love for us and the whole world dying in Adam. (John 3:16,17; 1 John 2:2,5; 3:17: 4:7-11) It is this love that should distinguish the regenerated child of God from all others. It is a love that can be seen in action on all occasions. It is a love that is willing to overlook the frailties and imperfections of others. The goal of those who belong to Christ is to perfect this love in their hearts. Indeed, eventually, all who are to live forever must have this love perfected in their hearts.

And yet, there is a special love that we should have for our brothers in Christ. Such love should be willing to lay down life for each other. Indeed, this, we believe, is possibly the greatest test on all the regenerated children of God, and it possibly along the line of love that many will fail to attain the prize that Paul wrote about in Philippians 3:14. Most of those consecrated who do not attain that prize will, we believe, have to go through further disciplining before they will be proven fit for eternal life, although they will have lost the greatest prize for which they were called. -- Luke 12:47,48.

Related:

Daily Heavenly Manna for March 7 * BSM Aids * Video

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

A Symposium on Love

Abiding in the Love of God

 

02-18 - Deuteronomy 13:3 - Jehovah Proves You

Jehovah your God proves you, to know whether you love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. -- Deuteronomy 13:3, RLIV.

The word prove in this verse carries a meaning of testing. The words are addressed to Israel, who were in covenant with Jehovah to obey all his requirements. Thus, it was proper that Jehovah should prove, which He did by allowing false prophets to come among them. God did not conduct such a proving among the nations except only his covenant people, Israel.

If we belong to Christ, we also are in a covenant relationship with the Heavenly Father. God has allowed Satan to oppose the Church as a trial of faith and of patient endurance. The Christian's test, however, is not only along the line of love and loyalty to God, but of love for truth and love for our brothers. The result is that there is a constant sifting work being performed although such work may not be openly seen by our physical eyes. God, through Jesus, is the final judge of who has and who has not been faithful in their love and devotion and what to do with those who are not fully faithful.

Related:

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 18  * BSM Aids * Video

"To Whom Shall We Go?"

The Adversary's Tactics

Parable of the Four Servants

02-15 - 1 John 2:5 -- Whoever Keeps His Word

{1 John 2:5} But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most certainly been perfected in him. -- RLIV.

The two key aspects of the above appear to be obedience and love. If we love the Lord Jesus, we will obey his words. In context, the special obedience that appears to be spoken of is that related to love itself. All who belong to Christ are at various degrees in developing the pure quality of love; very few have attained the perfection of love that is being spoken of, and need constantly to go before the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:1) We know from the Bible that God is love (1 John 4:8,16), and as we study about Jesus we see that Jesus is the witness that his Father is indeed "love." Jesus, however, is more than simply a witness of that love; Jesus is the channel by which God's love is received by those whom receive Jesus as an abiding power in their hearts. (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 2:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:5) But we fall short of obedience if we view God's love to be only related to forgiveness of our sins. We should realize that in obedience to Jesus, we are to develop God's love -- through Christ -- to perfection. 

Related:

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 15 * BSM * Video

Confession and Forgiveness

The Mark of Christian Maturity

A Symposium on Love

The Abiding Love of God

Self Discipline for God's Glory

02-10 - 1 Timothy 4:12 - Be An Example

1 Timothy 4:12 - Be an example to those who believe, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. -- RLIV

Paul's advice to Timothy is good for all who belong to Christ. In a broad sense, all Christians should be setting an example for not only fellow believers, but for the world, many of whom may believe at a future time or in that coming day when all nations are to blessed. (Isaiah 2:2-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:10) We all have the perfect example set by our Lord Jesus, as well as the imperfect examples of many other faithful ones, as recorded in the Bible.

The admonition above covers many aspects of life. It indicates that the Christian, although one may fall short in some aspects, should strive to utilize a careful choice of words and actions, all based on a faithful spirit of devotion and love for God as well as others. Love would certainly not wish to bring any harm to neighbor, whether they are or are not believers in Christ. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.  

Related (We do not necessarily agree all presented by other authors)

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 10 * BSM * Video

Pressing Toward the Mark

The Importance of Example

Let Your Light So Shine

God and Prayer

God's Holy Standards

Be An Example

In the Days of Thy Youth

What Makes a Christian Leader?

Contend for the Faith (MP3 download)

Follow the Pattern (Poem)

02-07 - Romans 13:10 -- Love Does No Harm

{Romans 13:10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. -- RLIV.

Love is at the center of service to God and Jesus. This love, however, springs from the heart, and is not just being nice to people for social acceptance or some other gain. People of the world may have at time expressed love for their neighbor, and possibly even die for their neighbor. How much more so should those who belong to the God of love have such love cultivated so as have love engrained their hearts. What love God displayed in sending his Son to earth to suffer and die for us! And we see this love displayed in the life of Jesus, and it is such love that is the identifying mark of a child of God. How much love Jesus displayed as all around him were imperfect people doing things that he knew his Father would not approve. If we have a knowledge of God's plan for man, how much we should imitate his love and not be passing judgment upon those who commit acts of unrighteousness, knowing that we too have committed acts of unrighteousness, and have needed forgiveness through Christ.

Related (We do not necessarily agree with all conclusions presented by others)

Daily Heavenly Manna for February 7 * BSM * Video

Mercy Rejoices Against Judgment

The Royal Law

The Good Samaritan

Micah 6:8 - What Jehovah Requires

03-12 - 1 Timothy 1:5 - End of the Charge is Love