Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSample

Read Philippians 2:1–11

 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 who, being in very nature God,
 did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
 by taking the very nature of a servant,
 being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
 he humbled himself
 by becoming obedient to death –
 even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
 and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
 in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
 to the glory of God the Father.

Getting Along

I love being with people . . . most of the time. Some people are easy to get along with and it’s always lots of fun to spend time with them. But, unfortunately, we’re not always surrounded by those we like to hang out with. Some people can be hard work, which may be why we have the saying, “The more I get to know people, the more I love my dog!” Often, when we struggle to get along with someone, we find fault with them and avoid them as much as possible.

In Philippians 2:2–5, however, Paul tells us to love everyone who follows Jesus. In fact, he wants all of us to be “one in spirit”, to look out for “the interests of others” and to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”. Think about it: Jesus gave up His own rights and privileges for us. He chose to live as a servant and paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring us into a brilliant new relationship with Him (see Hebrews 12:2). And He did all that even though we’re not always easy to get along with (see Romans 5:8).

So the next time you’re with someone you dislike, ask Jesus to help you find a way to show His love. In time, you might be surprised by how God can change your attitude towards people. —JS

The key to getting along with others is having the mind of Christ.

Talk to God

Father, thank You that while I was still ignoring You, You saved me with Your deep love. Give me the same courage and kindness to show others the love that You have so kindly shown to me.

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