APRIL 12, 2025 – ONE MIND

READ: Phil. 2:1-4: Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 

Paul notes that the church lacks mutual love and true fellowship. He makes an urgent appeal to them based on their communion with Christ. It cannot be that they share faith in Christ and love Him while lacking love in the communion of saints!

Paul appeals to their love for Christ and the comfort they receive from Him. He also calls upon their fellowship with the Spirit of Christ, through which they experience salvation and strength in His mercy.

He is saying: if you truly share in Christ, then you should also be united and show mutual love, truly being one as the body of Christ! You all partake in Him, sharing the same love and feelings!

This same call is heard in the Form for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, where communion with Christ is central:

“Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17) … So we all, incorporated in Christ by faith, are together one body. For the sake of Christ—who so exceedingly loved us first — we shall now love one another, and shall show this to one another not only in words but also in deeds.

Paul states in verse 2 that his joy depends on this; he considers it that important. Let them focus on the interests of others and, in humility, regard others as better than themselves.

Does this exhortation apply to you as well? What are your deeds?

Sing: Ps. 122:3