Being of One Mind in Christ - Philippians 2:1-11

What qualities do we have in our life? What fruit are we bearing, and is this uniting us together?

What is hindering us from being of one mind in Christ?

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Philippians 2:1-11 NKJV

¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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This passage should give us encouragement while also strengthening our resolve to ensure we live in the unity of Christ. We are to be of the same mind in Christ. This does not mean to think the exact same thing, but it means to live with a cooperative spirit and be agreeable in Christ, with the main focus being on the glory of God. When we strive to exalt Him, then everything else will follow. On Sundays at church, the main focus should be to exalt our Lord, and we can do this by demonstrating love and compassion toward others, demonstrating grace and mercy, being the encouragement that others need, and putting others before ourselves.

What is it that brings people back to a certain church or fellowship? What is it that makes you continue attending a certain church? Is it the teaching, the childcare, the worship, or is it the Spirit of God that is felt in the midst of that congregation? That is what we should be seeking instead of our own ambitions. If the church we go to isn’t providing this to others, how do we change it? It starts with love. Loving others unconditionally just as Christ loved us.

Paul gives the example of Christ becoming the bondservant and humbling Himself and becoming of human flesh. His compassion and true love for us gave Him the obedience that God the Father desired, even unto death on the cross. A death that is incredibly humilitating and used for the most despised of criminals. Christ emptied Himself and didn’t act on His divine right as King nor act with the power of His deity. No, Christ put Himself in a position of complete weakness for the sake of our sinful nature. This does not mean Christ gave up any of His divine entity because He was still God as part of the Trinity. Christ demonstrated His love for us, and since God is Love, Christ demonstrated the true nature of our God…LOVE. Because of this, God exalted Christ above all names. Christ has that position of authority, but does He have that position within our lives?

Being like-minded with Christ starts with a change in our hearts. Once our heart pursues the things of Christ, our minds and thoughts begin to change accordingly. True spiritual unity comes from within. It takes an active change and an act of continual submission before we can become unified as one mind in Christ.

Remember that the focus of our hearts should be the glory of God. Let nothing be done with selfish ambition but through love. We must practice humility and placing others before ourselves. We do this by providing Christ the position of authority in our hearts. The more we yield ourselves to Christ and strive to become a servant for Him, the more everything else falls into place. But again, it is accomplished with love.

How do we build unity of mind within our church body? Humble ourselves and love others as Christ has loved us. Pour out your love on those around you. You never know what experiences or circumstances others are going through, and the love you demonstrate may be what focuses their heart back on Christ.

Let Christ’s light shine through you. Be the witness of Christ’s love for this world. Spend the time in prayer and God’s Word, and allow God to reveal Himself to you.