We are in this together. As believers, we are not meant to be independent contractors, operating on our own and obsessed with our own individual relationships with God. We have been adopted into the family of God. We have brothers and sisters who we are intended to love and care for. And, because the body of Christ is a melting pot, made up of people from all walks of life and every conceivable background and personality type, we face a formidable challenge. Not all of us are lovely or loveable. We all bring our sin natures with us when we come to faith in Christ. And, while the penalty for our sin is taken care of, our propensity for sin remains. But we have the Holy Spirit to assist us. And Paul would have us recognize that our transformation into the likeness of Christ shows up best when we allow the Spirit of God to assist in loving the people of God. In Philippians 2:12-18, Paul will remind us we are to be lights shining in a dark world and our light shines brightest when we love one another.