Many times I read my bible and it's hard for me to accurately put into words how it replenishes, refocuses, and teaches me. Yes, as a sinning human I struggle with grasping the meaning of a lot of things, but there's a lot of joy that I get out of reading my bible and communing with God....albeit I'm constantly feeling like I have yet again failed when I read a command that I have been clearly away of yet choose to continue to not follow.
But today I picked up my bible and reverted to the book that is the most read, and by far has the most amount of lessons that I struggle day in and day out. It's my favorite book of the bible however, so I find a lot of solace in it when I find that my soul just needs a little bit of gentle loving from God.
The following is most of the second chapter, but it was the part the struck the biggest chord in my heart today. I will not explain any further after the chapter, I just hope you derive your own solace and thoughts from the passage:
"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 other. 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 tonge confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice."
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