Neville Turley

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

A quiet time each day, seeking the Lord in his word and drawing closer to him in prayer is the best time for being brutally honest with oneself.

Time is slipping by.  Today is the oldest you have ever been yet the youngest you will ever be.  That is the reality of living in the present instead of dwelling in the past or fantasising about the future.  No matter how long we may be destined to live, we know it will not be forever.

Our Bible verse today focuses on how we should live the rest of our lives.

We are part of a fallen creation but the good news is that if we are united with Christ and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we can develop the same mind set and attitudes as our Lord Jesus.  He has the nature of God but of his own free will became man.  He was humble and obedient to God’s will and served him to his life’s end.  The Bible invites us to do the same.

We must be humble and surrender to God’s will.  We must glorify him by reaching out in compassion to those in need, just as he did.  We must let the love of God within us express itself.

It will not be easy and it may prove costly.  Christians suffer for their beliefs; many Christians are martyred for their faith each year, exchanging their cross for a crown, just as their Saviour did.

Countless more (and you may be in that number) are ridiculed for their beliefs.

There is no better time than now to open your heart to the Holy Spirit.  Let him take you and mould you to the image of Christ.  He will empower you to lead a Christ-like life and a crown will be your reward for all eternity.

Prayer: Almighty God, you have shown us the fullness of your love in your son our Lord Jesus Christ.  May the Holy Spirit enable us to walk in his light and dwell in his love, now and for ever. Amen