…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philippians 2:2 NIV
One Mind
We Canadians are a mixed lot. Seldom are we of one mind about anything. But as Charlotte Gray says in her book The Promise of Canada: “Our country owes its success not to some imagined tribal singularity but to the fact that, although its … citizens do not look, speak or pray alike, we have learned to share this land and for the most part live in neighbourly sympathy.” The irony of our identity obsession is that the rest of the world knows who we are and what we stand for.
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Having been in Christian ministry for almost four and a half decades, I’ve learned a lot about the family of God. One thing is that we hold strong opinions about what we believe to be pleasing to God. I’ve also learned that while we need to stand firmly on the core elements of the Christian faith, there is much we ought to agree to disagree on and get on with God’s call on our lives. In John 17, Jesus prayed for unity among those of us in the family of God. Paul deals with the same issue as he writes to the Philippian believers. In Philippians 2:1, which we looked at yesterday, he reminds us of all the blessings that are ours in Christ. And in the next verse, he says that if any of this is so, and it most assuredly is, “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” There is no greater joy for a pastor than to know that his people are united in their desire to walk with Jesus and serve others. I pray this is so in your fellowship.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley