Note: Paul gives us four important words in Philippians 2:1. They are encouragement, comfort, fellowship (common sharing) in the Spirit and tenderness and compassion, which I am treating as one.
TENDERNESS and COMPASSION. Because we have been given the gift of salvation we are “in Christ” we are to show these character traits, encouragement, comfort, fellowship, and tenderness & compassion towards one another.
The reason we are to treat others in this manner is because Christ viewed us through the lens of these four traits. He lived His life as a source of encouragement, He gives us comfort in that as our High Priest, He understands everything we have, are or will go through. His constant present with us, via the Holy Spirit provides fellowship and He treats us with the tenderness and compassion of a shepherd.
I’ll try not to gross you out but the word “tender or tenderness” in the biblical language of Greek can sometimes refers to our inner most being or to be more explicit, our bowels.
The ancients believed that extreme emotions, such as extreme anger or extreme love came for the most inner place of our being. At some point, many simply expressed the idea that these four traits were to come from our hearts, which has been cleansed by the washing of blood through Jesus’ death.
Sometimes the word for compassion was translated as “mercy.” We are to show mercy to one another since mercy was shown to us by God when He sent His One and only begotten Son, Christ Jesus.
All four of these traits are intertwined. The closer we draw to God the closer He draws to us. This means we receive more encouragement, more comfort, more fellowship, and more tenderness & compassion. Therefore, the more we receive the more we can extend these same things to one another.
And they will come from deep within rather than be a superficial show.
I love what Jesu said in John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (NIV)
The opposite of these four traits are explained to us in Philippians 2:3-4. This list includes things such as “selfish ambition, conceit.” We are to look out for the interests of others and live out of humility.
The little song we all learned as children in Sunday school, “Jesus, Others, and You” was the way to spell “JOY” is still true today.
May you receive all things in the tenderness and compassion of Christ and then allow these four things to flow out of you everywhere you go.
Always in Pursuit!
Don
In Pursuit! 