Encouragement

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ..." Philippians 2:1

This is a factual conditional clause.  In other words, "If you have any encouragement, AND YOU DO..."  So what encouragement do we have since we are united with Christ?  The first encouragement is our salvation, that we have been rescued from slavery to sin and have been brought into glorious union with God.  We need have no fear of death because we know we will live forever with Christ in His kingdom. We will be united with all those who love Him and whom we love. I am looking forward so much to seeing Grandpa again!

There are many encouragements, but one that is important to me is that I am not alone.  Jesus promised that He would never forsake His children.  Earthly parents cannot be with us forever, but we will have Jesus with us always.