1 John 3:1a How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

I am a father of five children. Last night was not a restful night. On my way in to work this morning, God in his goodness reminded me of all I have to be thankful for. It started with seeing the sun coming up, breathing, walking, my family, etc. It was precisely what I needed. It reminds me of an old hymn called "Count your blessings". But I find that for me, blessings very quickly become expectations. This is why the gospel is for today. The verse above is exactly the blessing I need to remember. Not the "I'm a great guy and no wonder God wants for his child" attitude but "I, as a hater of God, have been given this BLESSING of childhood."

Phillipians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
In this passage our Saviour gives us a model for relating to those around us. It says that he "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped." I would then ask this...

If divinity is not something to be grasped, what is? My petty clutching on to things such as being noticed for my work, being appreciated for what I do, my finances, my aspirations... this is getting pathetic!

Today in my workplace, how can I be like Christ? Whatever I am grasping is so far beneath what he released that it is not worthy of comment.

Thank you for giving me an example, Lord. Help me to follow this in the relationships that surround me today.