Steve

Complete Joy.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with 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 purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

These words were not written from the comfort of an exotic resort overlooking the Mediterranean or some institute of higher education. No, they were penned by a broken man in the dark solitary confinement of a prison. A man persecuted for his faith but full of pure love for his persecutors and the people he mentored on his missionary journeys.

Paul experienced abandonment, rejection and isolation, even at times from those in the church, yet never will you see a bitter spirit in his words. He was a prisoner of Christ and Christ alone. How could a man write such inspiring letters of grace and truth from a dark oppressive prison cell? He knew what he had been saved from. He understood the amazing power of forgiveness and grace. He saw the deception of the religious laws of men. He loved Christ alone so that his letters reflected compassion and mercy. His true colours were complete joy in knowing Jesus.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Phil 2: 1-11

Your best will always come from times of great adversity when Christ is your all.

Godspeed,
Steve Grace
Steve Grace

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