Philippians 2:1-11
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
In order for believers to be united together in love, joy, peace, and harmony, we are to let the mind of Christ dwell in us richly and to display the same beautiful disposition that Jesus displayed in His earthly life.
But the picture of unity here, being in full accord and of one mind, revolves around Jesus. And if you keep reading on you see one of the most awesome pictures of Jesus anywhere in the Bible, of His humanity and His Deity and His love and His sacrifice and humility and His exaltation.
Jesus is the one who unites us in the church. And not just who He is, but how He loves.
That’s the picture. Did you hear it? Complete my joy by being in the same mind, having the same love. What’s that talking about? It’s talking about the love of Jesus who laid down His life for us. And so, I want to encourage you to think about your relationship specifically with other followers of Jesus and maybe even particularly with other followers of Jesus who have different thoughts than you do, and different opinions and preferences that you do, and even different convictions on things that are not clearly directly spelled out in God’s Word, and think how can I make sure practically cultivate unity with them in Jesus and show love toward them.
Sacrificial, lay down your life, kind of love toward them just as the Bible is calling us to here based on the attitude and example and life of Jesus in us.
Today's verses are built upon the self-emptying love of Christ that led Him to come to earth and give Himself for each of us. Jesus gave up His rights. He refused to cling to His status and position to protect His place in the world and save His dignity. He refused the protection of heaven that could have been His by right and suffered a gruesome death as a mortal. He emptied Himself and served. God raised Him and honored Him.
Jesus is our example of the attitude we must have as we live our lives. He is the resurrected and coming Lord Whose example reminds us that glory and honor here are fleeting, but a day of glory is coming for us. Our Lord has shown us how to treat each other and what to value as important in life.
Paul reminded us that Jesus demonstrated them in His life and now calls us to follow Him in putting them into daily practice in our lives. Paul's words don't need an explanation; we just need to live them in our relationships. So, let's reread them, and as Jesus' half-brother James reminded us, we need to put them into practice and not just hear and read them.
Therefore, as the Body of Christ, let us be of one mind, one spirit, and one heart. Let us be transformed into the likeness of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, which will enable us to discern what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God and to display it in our lives!!!
Father thank You for this day and for the amazing grace to walk in it. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings from the floodgates of heaven over my friend and family today. Lord help us be united together to our brothers and sisters in Your love. Lord give us a humility of heart, and transform our minds into minds more like Yours so that we may think the thoughts that You would have us think so that we may be a channel of Your love to others.
Father, we love You amen.
Be a blessing. Love ya !
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