Philippians 2:1-8
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” vs. 5
Paul’s deepest desire is that the faith community in Philippi be of one mind and in full accord…but even more than that, he wants their one mind to be the mind of Christ Jesus. It’s an amazing vision…and one that we struggle to live up to. But just imagine what it would be like if that aspiration became a reality! It would mean that every congregation would seek only to serve and humility would become the highest virtue. Nothing would be done from selfish conceit or ambition and each of us would look to the needs of others before our own. There are some who are quick to dismiss such thinking as hopeless idealism…they maintain that sinful humans are incapable of living selflessly and that every human institution, including the church, is fraught with various lusts for power and prestige. But those objections just aren’t true! There are countless faith communities around the world in which followers of Jesus live exactly as Paul envisioned, and blessed are those who have experienced the commitment to service and unconditional loving that is the heart of their life together. These little groups of Christians have an influence far beyond their numbers and have succeeded in keeping the humble spirit of Jesus alive in our broken world. In them Christ Jesus lives on, and through them the kingdom of God continues to come near.
Thought for the Day: How does my faith community show the mind of Christ?
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