Unity

Phil. 2:5

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

How important unity is! Paul stated that because there is encouragement in Christ, and because there is participation in the Spirit, and because there is affection and sympathy, believers can be of one mind. These three areas grow unity because they are realities in Christ. Every believer needs to examine himself to see if he or she is living in the reality of Christ.  The Spirit indwells every believer and works within that believer so that he or she can see and experience their new life in Christ. They can and must live in the reality of the body of Christ. Within this body [that all believers are part of], there is encouragement, affection and sympathy. The more the body bonds, the more the body grows in unity.

Paul then taught a hugely important truth, one that often reeks havoc in the body, that is that believers often must never operate out of rivalry and conceit. When this happens, it is the flesh taking control. Living the Christian life in the flesh often results in strife, in people wanting more attention than others, and in people thinking they are better than others in the body. Instead believers are to be humble counting others more significant than themselves. When this happens, believers are not looking to their own interests but to the interests of others. With a mind-set like this unity will result!

Finally, believers are to have the mind of Christ. What was His mindset? He gave up equality with God to become a servant. He was born as a man and humbled Himself to the point of death, death on a cross. His life was and is the pattern for all believers. We are to live humbly with one another, because humility is the way the body of Christ grows. It is the way we can be encouraged in Christ, we can participate in the Spirit, and we can have affection and sympathy for others in our body, and we can count others more significant than ourselves.

Father,

Help me to operate with the mind of Christ, to love and care for others, to count their needs more significant than mine. I confess many times this is not my thinking. Give me Your grace so that I might love the body as I should. Make this a reality even in my home.

In Jesus name,

Amen