Daily Devotion (June 13, 2024)
Philippians 2:1–4 (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.
The body of Christ is to encourage, comfort, support, strengthen each other in the faith. The church, the body of Christ is to be like minded. The church is to have the mind of Christ. Paul writes in verse five, we are to “have the mind of Christ.”
The body of Christ is to allow nothing to interfere with the spirit of unity in the church. Each person in the church is important and is to be encouraged to grow in Christ.
Paul wrote to the Philippian church about a schism taking place in the church. He wrote in chapter 1 verse fifteen, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill.”
The Body of Christ is to be likeminded. The focus is Christ. When Christ is the focus then there can be unity. One person wrote: “But note, we are not only to help those who are disturbed, we are to let the comfort and encouragement of Christ flow in us when we are disturbed. When disturbed, we are to let Christ comfort us; and when others are disturbed, we are to comfort them. Just imagine the spirit of unity that would flow through the church if all the members would let the consolation of Christ flow through them. There would be no murmuring, grumbling, disturbance—no disunity whatsoever.”
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”