Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. – Philippians 2:2
Research reported by George Barna in the May 21, 2024, edition of The Christian Post headlines “The biggest threat facing the Church: ‘We’ve reached a time of Christian invisibility.‘” He explains, “We’re getting to this place where the typical American… will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be influenced with God’s truth.” Author and scholar Ken Hahn, in his book Divided Nation, cites one of the “most troubling trends Barna highlights” as “the decline in discipleship and a lack of solid, biblical training from seminaries.” Unity of mind, teaching, and purpose is absent in seminaries and in churches, even among groups of Christian neighbors or families. A distinctly Christian perspective is the result of investing time and immersing oneself in the Word of God to know what He says about how you are to think and act.
Division is a favorite tool of Satan. He drives wedges between friends, families, and worshippers. Pain, heartache, and loss are often the result. The importance of knowing God’s Word, and putting it into application by living in unity with others, is key to a healthy Body of Christ. Having one mind, one spirit, one heart, and one love, and living lives that have been transformed into Christlikeness by the power of the Holy Spirit are the means by which believers can recover influence in the world.
Theologian A.W. Tozer, in The Pursuit of God, asked, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?” Unity is not lock-step uniformity. Rather, unity among a group of highly individualistic followers of Christ happens as all of them look to Him with a humbled heart that is steeped in love for each other. Unity is all about Jesus—it is not about you! Pray that the Lord draws the hearts of believers in America to desire and pursue a biblical worldview that creates greater unity.
Today’s Verse: Philippians 2:2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Philippians 2:1-4, 14-16
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
