Family.

Paul encourages the Philippian church to change from a mere neighborhood of believers to a close-knit family of brothers and sisters in Christ. He’s the Father of the early church. Like any parent, he pleads, “Children, please, LOVE each other!”

Love for family requires laying down of self every day. We can’t control how our siblings in Christ treat us, so we discipline ourselves to love no matter what. We clean up our own defects as quickly as we can, but we’re patient and gracious when our fellow Christians sin. We offer encouragement for their accomplishments, and save our own trophies to be quietly realized later.

Loving family is being on the alert for when and how to help. It’s hands-on, active, real, and ready. It isn’t easy. It takes God’s strength to be merciful like Him, to be humble like Him, to extend kindness like Him.

Don’t be discouraged.

Your frustration with the difficulty of doing the right thing keeps you close to God, petitioning for His help. We need our Father’s strength to love our siblings as Jesus does. Continually refill yourself with God’s Spirit of grace, holding the family of believers up to God in prayer!