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 loneliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each if you look out not only for his own
interest, but also for the
interest of others.
Philippians 2: 1 -- 4
The church
at Philippi has a very disappointing history not unlike some other apostolic
churches of the East. Ignatius in his
letters while passing through the place on his way to his martyrdom in Rome,
and was kindly entertained and escorted by the brethren, and in the epistle of
Polycarp to the Philippians, who expressed his joy of this root of their
faith, famous from the earliest days, but still surviving and bearing fruit
unto the Lord Jesus Christ and he even alludes to the labors of the apostle
Paul. Tertullian appealed to the Philippians
church and saying that they were still maintaining the apostle's doctrine and
reading this letter publicly. So how
then was the church of Philippi disappointing?
During the Middle Ages the city was turned into a very poor village and
the leadership there had become nothing more than a mere shadow. Today there's not even a village on the
site, only some ruins, consisting of a theater, and some broken marble columns,
two lofty gateways, and a portion of the city wall. It seems as though not one stone after another stands upon
another. This church a Philippi with
the brightest of promise now lives without a history and without a
memorial. What we do have though, is
this a letter of Paul's to the church, and from that Christians still live inspired by
God and others also by the knowledge they read from the words of Paul inspired by
God.
With this
history in mind and understanding that the secular governments are not always
as friendly to the Christian church and there are those who are teaching heresy
that bears upon Christians, then, and even in this present age. Paul though, is reminding Christians about
Christian duties and one of those duties is to be like-mindless. Do I have a
lowly blindness, not in conformity with this world, rather in conformity to
the Lord Jesus Christ who is our greatest example of humility and love? Let us not forget this one fact: to love one
another is a law of Christ’s Kingdom.
What are speaking of this love that the world is so in love with which
really has no real substantial meaning for it loves even an animate objects, is God's love, a disciplined love and this love is shown by being
like-minded. Christian should have one
thing and that his affection for one another and this love is that we care for our
brothers and sisters in Christ. This is
our duty and if we do not keep this duty a person may become nearer the
judgment. The Christian love is to be
mutual. Being of one accord, and of one
mind; not imposing upon another separate interest; but agree in the great
things of God, keeping the unity of the Spirit even amidst other
differences. If you remember I spoke of
the matters of difference and indifference and if it is indifferent, then what
difference does it make? So why make a mountain out of a molehill and often
just to prove themselves right not trying to keep unity. Remember we have communion with God in Jesus
Christ by the Spirit, and if we have that communion that we must have communion
between us saints and this is shown, by being of one mind and of the same
spirit. Christian love them like
mindless will preserve to us communion with God and with one another. Are you expecting some benefit from God,
some compassion to yourself, then be compassionate to another, to one another,
and if there's mercy to be found among the followers of Christ, all who are
sanctified to every disposition of holiness and pity and make this up here,
that is to be manifested so that the love of God is shown to anyone who desires
to see it. Fulfill the love of God, his joy by being a minister of joy and
to see people like minded, and living in love.
This in are
the means to promote Christian love: do nothing through strife and vain glory.
We must esteem others in loneliness of mind better than ourselves and to
do this we must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own
defects, and yet be ready to overlook, and to make favorable allowances for
others. We all can say that that is
often a very difficult but it is possible through the Holy Spirit guiding
us. Furthermore we must have an
interest for the concern of others, not in curiosity and some sort of
censorship, or as busybodies and other man's matters, but in Christian love and
sympathy. They selfish spirit is just
crack team of Christian love, therefore we must be concerned not only for our
own credit, and ease, and safety, but for those of others; and rejoice in their
prosperity. We have been instructed by
Jesus in regards to the 10 Commandments that we are to love God with our whole mine
sold by the Spirit, in other words in completeness, and then we are to love
others in the same way as we have love for God. We must love our neighbors as ourselves and make his case our
own. These are hard lessons for man is
proud, carnal infarct. Some have warned
doctrine very accurately, and who know nothing of this practical
instruction. Therefore we must
continually be looking upon our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Then I look on all the works
that my hands had done
and on the labor in which I had toiled;
and indeed
all was vanity
and a grasping for the wind.
As though
profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 2: 11
Love one another this is the will of God
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