We don’t get to choose our families. And yet often they are the closest people we’ve got. In the same way, we don’t get to choose our spiritual family. We’ve got to find a way to love one another. After all, deep love for one another is the only way people will be able to tell that we are from one spiritual family.

New citizenship always requires certain prerequisites for those hoping to acquire it and these should form our actions and mindset. In Philippians (3:15-21), Paul reminds us that how we conduct ourselves matters, ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, is our mind on earthly things or are we focused on the hope of heaven?

In Philippians 3, Paul tells us about the importance of knowing Christ. Just as there are different levels of intimacy with those around us, there are also different levels of intimacy with Christ. Paul reminds and encourages us that we should desire such a level of intimacy with Christ that knowing him is worth more than all other things/knowledge in the world.

Philippians 2 teaches how disunity comes from self-interest and how the church requires a deeper connection than just a social club. Paul uses two examples to describe what servants of Christ look like and reminds us of the importance of bringing others’ interests above our own.

In Philippians, Paul reminds us of the importance of reflecting Jesus’ mindset in how we react to the world around us. The world’s mindset is peace through strength; Jesus’ mindset is peace through humility. Just as Jesus (though fully God) did not elevate himself, we too must humble ourselves so that God may be glorified in us.

Philippians 1 shares how we can be joyful in our partnership with the church and Christ. We see that the mark of the disciple is one who conducts themselves in a way worthy of the Gospel regardless of their situation. Paul’s faith was prison-proof. Is your faith pandemic proof?