Philippians 2:1 – 2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
Being like-minded. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have to agree on everything? If so, then we will have a hard time finding any two people, much less any group of people, who are like-minded.
Paul was probably addressing the issue of a petty dispute which had arisen between two women in the Philippian church – Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2). He never mentions the reason for the dispute, possibly because it wasn’t important. Instead, he wanted his readers to focus on the important issues of Christianity.
Many of you reading this are Christians. And as Christians, we have a fellowship, a unity with one another because we are joined in Christ. Yet, some of you are Baptist, some Lutheran, some Methodist, some Church of Christ, some Pentecostal, some Catholic, some charismatic . . .
As Christians, we don’t always agree on everything, do we? Yet, we are still in fellowship with one another. We are still united in our belief that Jesus is the one and only Son of God, and that He died on the cross in our place, to take the punishment for our sin. He rose again on the third day, and was victorious over death! It is only because He paid a price that we could never pay ourselves that we can have a relationship with God, and can spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we believe those things, we are like-minded, and we have fellowship with one another. We don’t have to agree on everything – just the important stuff. And disagreement doesn’t have to mean division! We can choose to disagree on minor issues, as long as we do so in a Christ-like way. We are already united in Christ. No matter what, for all of eternity, we are brothers and sisters. Now, we must act in unity, and treat one another with the same love, compassion, tenderness, encouragement and comfort that Christ has shown each of us.
Dear Father, Thank you for generously giving me your love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, and encouragement. Please help me to show that same generosity to other people. Help me not to focus on silly, petty things, but instead, help me to concentrate on sharing Your love with the world.
Amen
I just read your article in the “In Touch” devotional magazine! You have really excelled at writing, Renae! What a lovely story.
Love this new site, too! The article “Cream and Sugar” is great.
Of course, my favorites will always be the ones that include anything about Foster’s antics or beautiful Charis! Just don’t see how you do all this. You are amazing!
We miss you guys!
What a way to start October 1, 2007. Indeed, let us remember that the petty stuff is NOT important – in any part of our life. Let
us focus on the important things. There are enough of them to fill every moment of our lives and dwelling on the petty stuff just steals time from our loving our God and each other. Lord Jesus help me to focus on Love. Thank you for all the love and loved ones that you have given to me. And – Thank you Renae!
Keep flowing!
“The Most Important Day of the Year” really brought back some precious memories. Like a special Tuesday (1/30/68) when I first saw a precious, adorable (yes, chubby) angel with a rosebud mouth! Like another day when a three year old could not get her nail into that board – like her Daddy! Like the day a four year old was learning to vaccumn and the vacumn cleaner was still taller than she was! (She had on a red shirt.) And another autumn day when a five year old told her big brother to
“Open your mouth and close your eyes and you will get a BIG surprise”. Oh! So many precious memories!
As your dear Catholic sister in Christ, I echo this loud and clear. It has been a beauty since my conversion to Catholicism to see people’s attitudes change before my eyes because I have been able to show them that Catholics also journey with Christ.
We truly are all brothers and sisters and when we recognize that and build on that, and not our differences, we are fulfilling Christ’s amazing prayer that we would all be one, as He and the Father are one.
Congrats, my friend, on your new site and on your amazing article in the Stanley magazine.
Loved the piece about your five-year-old as well – sure took me back a few years – to raising young ones and writing a newspaper column.
Deja-vu!
Love,
Judi