I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Philippians 4:2 NIV
Same Mind
The culture of Canada embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canadians. Throughout Canada’s history, its culture has been influenced firstly by its indigenous cultures, and later by European culture and traditions, mostly by the British and French. Over time, elements of the cultures of Canada’s immigrant populations have become incorporated to form a Canadian cultural mosaic. Certain segments of Canada’s population have, to varying extents, also been influenced by American culture due to shared language (in English-speaking Canada), significant media penetration, and geographic proximity.
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In John 17, Jesus prays – what a blessing to be able to sit and listen to how He speaks to the Heavenly Father. And in that prayer, He prays that His people might be one – connected with each other as He and the Father are. Sadly, within the Body of Christ, just such the opposite is true. There is far too much conflict and posturing for positions of honour. The apostle Paul was dealing with a situation like this and prays in Philippians 4:2: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. It means choosing love over division, grace over pride, and reconciliation over resentment. When we center our relationships on Christ, we find common ground that transcends personal opinions and preferences. The call to be “of the same mind” is a call to humility, to listen, and to seek peace. In a world that often celebrates conflict and division, the church is called to be different—a community marked by love, forgiveness, and unity. After all, our witness to the world is strengthened when we live in harmony.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley