How to make joy complete!
Do you focus more on what unites or on what divides?
Is there a oneness that can be created here and gracefully infect the others?
Is there a way we could live that would spread joy?
Is it possible that we could be of one mind and be of one spirit right here and now?
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His Love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same Love, being one in spirit and mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:1-4
Isnt it interesting how much words like “Love” and “tenderness” and “compassion” seem to fit into a passage about making “joy complete?”
Will there ever be a time and a place where we all agree on doctrine or dogma?
Could it be that the focus of that is what turns so many off to the love that would be readily available if we sought the interest of others instead of ourselves?
There are only two answers I know for sure: God is Love and Jesus is the way the truth and the Life but then outside of that what really matters?
The first “God is Love” is so vitally important because “Love is patient” and in no hurry to convert anyone. In fact to me “vain conceit” is the opposite of Love and essentially “vain conceit” means having to prove I am right because my ego is on the line.
The answer to making anyones joy complete is “being like minded, having the same Love.” One spirit and one mind in this way “I love you more than I love dogma and I love you more than I love having to be right.”
Theories, dogma and everything else will pass but what is done for Love will last for eternity. There is a common sharing in the Spirit and there is tenderness and compassion and that needs to be our focus. Selfish ambition and vain conceit will kill Love and create a religious body as opposed to a Love body of believers.
Please be about the Fathers work of Love and compassion and leave the ego and the self out of anything here.
