Daily Bread 12/19/2020

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Philippians 2:2-3 – Fulfill my joy by thinking the same, having the same love, being one in Spirit, being of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or desire for praise; but in humility, regarding others better than yourself.

There was nothing more important to Paul than for the Church to be perfectly knitted together in love (Colossians 2:2; Ephesians 4:15-16). Through this love and fellowship in the Spirit, those in the Church would be able to walk in the perfect unity described by Paul in these verses. When we consider how the Spirit was poured out upon a Church that was gather together with one purpose and submitted to the one calling, then we may understand how this is the environment and state of the heart in which the Holy Spirit is empowered to lead the meeting (Acts 2:1, 1:14, 4:24,32, 5:12; Romans 15:6; Philippians 1:27). Furthermore, if the Church is going to function as one body, then being submitted to the same Spirit that gives the body life and movement is absolutely essential (James 2:26; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:13, 20; Ephesians 4:4).

If we are going to have such a submission among those who are in the Church, then God’s people are going to have to humble themselves and walk in lowliness of mind – instead of being so opinionated. For those who have trouble humbling themselves and following the instructions of those who are in charge – as well as being in submission to those they feel to be less qualified than themselves, they should consider Jesus. Jesus was equal to God (being God); and yet, He became a servant and humbled Himself to death on a cross to purchase the Church with His Own blood (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 3:1-6). The cry of Paul’s heart is for everyone to do likewise, so the glorious Church can be manifested to a lost and dying world (1 Corinthians 14:25, 1:10; Ephesians 5:26-27).

Paul focuses our attention on the specific nature and disposition we most definitely should possess if we have received the Spirit of God. He draws our attention to the fact that this is, indeed, the very nature of God. If God did not have this nature of love, compassion, mercy, and humility, then we would never have been redeemed and would have been lost forever. Jesus did not regard His own position and comforts when He humbled Himself to take on the form of man in order to redeem us. He regarded our situation and well being with a level of importance worth all of the abuse and pain He endured to ransom our lives from sin and darkness. If God so loved us, then we ought to also love one another (1 John 4:7-12; Hebrews 12:1-3). And even more, if we are those who have been born of God, then His unselfish nature must be allowed to govern our decision making process (1 Peter 5:5-6; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; Galatians 5:25-26).

Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen