Philippians is a letter of joy: joy in the midst of suffering and trial; joy that transcends our situation. This passage tells us the secret of joy is in having the right priority: J-O-Y is Jesus, Others, and You. For joy in the Christian life, we need to ask these questions in this order: What would be right as far as Jesus is concerned? What would be right as far as others are concerned? What would be right as far as I am concerned?

Our love should be ordered this way as well. Jesus said that the greatest commandment (the first priority) is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. The second is to love your neighbors as you love yourselves. The Bible does not emphasize the need for us to love our- selves because that is what we do naturally (as it says in Ephesians 5: 29). In fact, we are naturally so selfish that we often speak and react without a care for others. This hurts them. They respond selfishly, which hurts us—and the pain of sin goes round and round.

We are to love others, but this passage does not start by focusing on loving others. It focuses on our knowing and loving Jesus. The reason is this: we do not have the power to really love others the way God wants us to unless we get the power to do so from God. It is easy to do good things for others as long as they are appreciative and love us back. But often, people take our love and sacrifice as if it were their due. Ask parents if they have not seen this in their children. Ask those who serve the "needy" how often they get real gratitude and how often they get "attitude." If we are going to love our neighbor as ourselves, we need a special power from something beyond the feedback we get and our own basic "goodness." We need the power that comes from receiving love from Christ.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion…. We get encouragement from Jesus. He tells us to give to those who need and we will have treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves cannot break in and steal. Love and God will bless you—and his blessing is eternal. Jesus gives us comfort in his love. We receive all the love and encouragement we need from his unconditional love. Empowered by that, we can love others unconditionally.

In Christ we have fellowship with the Spirit. We can show love to other believers because God has joined us together in bonds that are greater than just common interests or background. It is a fellowship created by God because we have been made part of one family—God’s family, one body—Christ’s body. As we are united to Christ, we are united to others who are united to Christ. In Christ we have tenderness and compassion. When we receive mercy and compassion from God in Christ, that mercy and compassion is in us and will come out of us to others. If you have any trouble showing love and looking to the real needs of others (especially other Christians), then look to Jesus who is the source of our ability to love and he will empower you.

The secret to loving others is to deepen our relationship with Jesus. If we are to have this power of Christ working in our hearts, we must maintain a close relationship with Jesus. The power for loving others is in knowing Christ and knowing his love for you. As we nurture that relationship, Jesus nurtures us. In our action-based society, who would have thought that the start of really showing love to others is in precious times of prayer to God? In meditation on his holy Word? In drinking deeply from the fountain of his love for us? But it is. The closer we are to Jesus, the more able we are to look at others with the eyes of his love. Then we can view others, not as someone to satisfy us, but as someone to minister to.

If we receive our love and affirmation from Jesus, we can have the power to love others. And when we do, the results are nothing short of supernatural. God begins to soften hearts. God changes lives and the power and grace of God flows through us. Can you live for others? Can you speak to others as a ministry from Christ? Can you do it in your own family? Here in church? How about in school or on the job? If you are a believer in Jesus, it is not only possible, but it is an important part of your calling.