Philippians Chapter 4 verses 1-3
If in one hundred years time your name was to be discovered mentioned in an old document what one thing would you like the finder
to learn about you? Would you like it to be recorded that you were a very kind and loving person or that you were a mature Christian or that you were
good at making people feel at ease? Two ladies from the church at Philppi have gone down in history and the thing they are remembered for is that
they had fallen out with each other. Internal troubles of this kind can flare up very quickly. The sad thing is that most of these altercations arise
out of selfishness. They happen because the people concerned do not have the same attitude that Jesus had. (Philippians Chapter 2 verse 5) James picks up the same theme when he asks "What causes fights and quarrels among you? He gives the reason, 'Don't they come from
your desires that battle within you' You want something but don't get it. (James Chapter 4 verses 1 & 2) We should heed the warnings of
scripture, as Christians we must do our best to make sure that we do not come into conflict with our fellow believers. The devil still finds work
for idle hands to do. It saddens me that in these days we can regularly read articles and letters in religious magazines written about all kinds of
matters which stem from a lack of love for those whose views differ slightly from our own. Satan delights to see this kind of thing happening, he
loves to see Christians at one another's throats. We should do our very best not to get caught up in this kind of nit-picking which gives the
evil one so much pleasure. Paul addresses these things in writing to the Philippians about how Christians should live according to the pattern which
he had given them. (Chapter 3 verse 17) He certainly did not want them to live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (Chapter 3 verse 18)
Instead they were to live as citizens of heaven (Chapter 3 verse 20) keeping in the forefront of their minds the fact that Christ is coming
again to this earth. (Chapter 3 verse 21) If we are going to be those who obey the lord and contend for the faith of the Gospel then we should
recognize that we are engaged in a bitter fight with Satan and the world disunity among us is a flaw in our Armour. Gavin McCullough District Chaplain