New Year, New Eyes

Shall we diligently seek good so that we procure favour?

As we enter the year 2025, my wife and I have been inspired to do an in-depth devotional on the book of Philippians. Although we have only started a few days ago and still stay in chapter 1:1 - 10, my eyes have been renewed, especially towards brethren.My soul was humbled. These verses labour to comfort me.

Brothers and sisters, I believe that we all want to have deeper and more loving relationships among brothers and sisters in the church, so that there can be more and more unity in the church, and I find that Philippians 1:8 - 9 tells us that it is to imitate the heart of Jesus Christ.

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

(New International Version, Philippians 1:8-9) Paul missed and was affectionately desirous of meeting he Philippians again with the heart of Jesus Christ, and in Jesus' eyes, everyone had the hope of being renewed and transformed. Yes, brethren, do show meekness unto all.

According to His abundant mercy God saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

People you meet in church may seem strange to you, or even annoying. But when the Holy Spirit pull out the beam and mote of our own eye as renewed and transformes from what they once were in the eyes of Jesus, and the process continues, and they become adorable, your relationship is transformed. Be careful to maintain relationship,brethren, for wisdom dwell with prudence.

As our relationship with brethren prosper in Christ, God will clothe us with His robe, and strengthen us with His girdle. Then we be valiant warrior in the Lord and for the Lord. It perfects our way in the Lord. The fruit of the righteous is tree of life.

I 've tried to adjust my gaze to the people in my church in this way, to see them with the heart of Jesus, and that is a pleasant surprise. I feel that are part of my family. I feel home.

"My prayer is that your love may grow in knowledge and understanding" (v. 9). Growing in love is more important than growing in knowledge. In order to know whether someone is right or wrong, we should not only rely on rational analysis, but more importantly, we should look at people and things with love, so that when we face someone who has done something wrong, or even someone who has brought trouble to us, we can pray for that person with a loving heart and solve the root cause of the problem.

God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants.. to see we enjoy sweet fellowship with others in Christ.

The relationship and love among brethren will gets deeper and deeper in the Lord. The Holy Spirit does wonder beyond our imagination as the body of Christ dwell in unity of Christ.

Brethren, intreat the Lord of His grace to give us the heart if Christ to love others as He loves us.