By Audrey Bauman

Philippians 2: 1 - 2  NLT

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose."

Love is something we all cherish. Valentine's Day was just a couple of weeks ago, and we likely focused on telling our families and best friends how much we loved and cared for them. Think of those cards, candies and flowers you purchased - and hopefully received.

If we're honest, sometimes we don't feel that loved on a daily basis. We're busy at our jobs, busy in looking after the hundreds of things needed around our home, busy looking after our kids and/or driving those kids all over to their extracurricular activities, reminding our partner of the things they promised to do ...  

Paul starts off with some profound questions in this chapter. Do you have any encouragement or comfort in knowing God loves you? Pause for a moment. How often do you think about God's love for you? This past week? This past month?

Read these verses from Ephesians 3. Read them slowly and think carefully about what God is saying to you:

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."  (v. 17 - 19)

Every day when you pray, start off by thanking God for his love for you. Reminding ourselves of God's love can make such a difference in our life. When we face difficult situations, we can face them with more confidence knowing we are loved. Just getting through those crazy busy days is possible when we remember we are loved.

Paul asks two more questions in that first verse. "Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?"   First, let's stop and think about how we relate to the people around us. Do people in your neighbourhood think you are a pleasant - and  maybe even a helpful - person? What do the people at work think about you? What would that teller at the grocery store think about you?

Let's go back to our relationships at our church. When you look around your church on Sunday morning, do you realize that you all are in "fellowship in the Spirit"? Every person in the church is unique. We have different interests and abilities. We come from different backgrounds, perhaps even different countries and cultures. We might not like the same music. We might disagree on how to interpret some scripture. But we are each loved by God, and the Holy Spirit lives within each of us. That is a very special relationship.

"Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." That is the instruction that God gives us in Philippians. And it 's not the only place we see that instruction.

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples".

            Jesus speaking in John 13: 35

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

            Romans 12: 10

"But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself     has taught you to love one another.    1 Thessalonians 4: 9

We likely sit in the same pews each Sunday, and maybe you've gotten to know the people who sit around you. But start to talk with those people you don't know. I tend to be an introvert, so talking to 'strangers' requires effort. Despite the glitches in our personalities, let's be a church where people feel welcomed and cared for. Get involved in various activities and get to know people better.

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose."

Our song for today is The Love of God by Mercy Me.