Paul gives us a picture of what that abounding love for one another will look like. It looks like having one mind and being in full accord. It looks nothing like selfish ambition. It looks like humility, not thinking highly of yourself, counting others as more significant. We’re to look out for our own interests, but also the interests of others. This isn’t martyrdom. We consider ourselves too.

It’s the mind of Christ we are after. He humbled Himself. He, the King of the Universe, became a servant. He came to serve. He obeyed to the point of death.

He is rewarded by being placed over all, and we will honor and worship Him forever to the glory of the Father.

How do we get this Christ-life? We work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Where does that fear and trembling come from? From knowing you can’t save yourself. You are completely reliant on God to save you. Rely on Him. Every moment you need His keeping to keep you on the right path and out of sin. You can’t do it on your own. Put your life in His hands and cooperate as He brings You into the life He’s created you for. It’s the humble life of Christ that lives to serve.

We can live that life because it’s His work, not yours. He puts in you both the willing and the working. Give your life to Him to do it.

Then we can live a blameless life. That doesn’t mean a life without ever messing up. It means we’re not consciously choosing to do what’s wrong, and when we do wrong, we instantly confess and ask for forgiveness and for help to never do it again.

Jesus presents us blameless before the throne of God. That’s how we can approach boldly and know we’ll have our prayers answered.

When we grumble and fight, we’re denying God’s sovereign goodness in our lives. We love. We give thanks.

If you are complaining about your circumstances, you are saying either God is not in control (how disrespectful!) or you are saying He’s made a bad choice and you know better (how disrespectful!). God is in control and always good and loving and wise and absolutely perfect in all His ways.