It’s time for daily devotion, and our Tuesday thoughts turn toward Paul’s passionate plea to the Philippian church. Paul had a special love for this church. They were the first church Paul established in Europe on his second missionary journey. In a vision, he’d seen a man bidding him to come to Macedonia to help them.
Seeing this as God’s direction, Paul sailed and came to Phillipi. There, he encountered Lydia, his first Christian convert, whose household also accepted Christ. In Phillipi, God had shown His mighty power by delivering Paul and Silas from jail. And Paul’s love and concern for the church he’d established there can’t go unnoticed. However, as their spiritual father, he doesn’t fail to offer correction:
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
In today’s daily devotion, praise God for leaders who will speak the truth in love.
Fulfill My Joy
Photo by RDNE Stock project via pexelsPaul begins his letter by thanking God for the Philippian church. God has begun a good work in them, and he prays that they’ll continue advancing in love, knowledge, truth, and righteousness. They’ve been under attack by Judaizers who want to contaminate their faith. But Paul encourages them to remain faithful and confident. Then he pleads with them to walk in humility as Christ also walked.
As believers, sometimes our actions lead us into disunity. The enemy plants seeds of disharmony as a distraction from remaining grounded in faith. If he can steer you off the love walk, he can shatter your faith because faith works by love. As their father in the faith, even though they’ve been a source of joy for him and also financial support, he doesn’t hold back in requiring their humility.
Commit, in today’s daily devotion, that you will prioritize walking in unity as a believer in Christ.
Be Likeminded
The fulfillment of Paul’s joy is that they’ll be like-minded in walking in humility. Somehow, they’ve gotten off track. They let outside influences, selfishness, or pride seep into their midst, and Paul wants to redirect them. Seeing they’re headed in the wrong direction, he tries to adjust the ship before it runs aground.
Listening to the wise counsel of leaders and those who’ve proven faithful makes us stronger. When we’re moving off course, God allows others to direct us back to center. Near the end of his letter, Paul mentions specific names of those engaged in conflict. The church has no room for conflict. We must be like-minded. In today’s daily devotion, commit to righteousness by walking in faith and unity.
Have the Same Love
Paul admonishes the church to have sincere love toward one another. Believers don’t agree on everything, but there are some basic tenets of faith that we must all accept. Unity and love are two of them. Christ taught their importance, being an example of both. As their leader, Paul reminds them of the humility of Christ, who took the form of a servant, humbling Himself by becoming flesh.
Christ also submitted to death for mankind in obedience to God. Christ prayed that we be one; therefore, believers are required to maintain unity, not letting discord and strife rip it away. In 14:15, Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Walking in love and unity is a must for the church. Paul says in Romans 12:18 that with all our ability, we are to live peaceably toward each other.
In today’s daily devotion, make it your aim to walk in love and in peace with others.
One Accord
Photo by cottonbro studio via pexelsBeing in one accord is the same as unity, but it definitely involves intention. When you see a quartet or group singing in harmony, it took practice. It took intentionality. An effort must occur to work in harmony. It’s not automatic, but if we’re willing to walk in humility and love, we can walk in accord. Just like singers, we can harmonize beautifully together, but we must work at it.
In Tuesday’s daily devotion, let striving to be in one accord be intentional.
One Mind
In Philippians 2:5, Paul goes on to say, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What kind of mind would you attribute to Christ? His mind was committed to God. He was committed to righteousness, faith, love, and unity. If we are to have the mind of Christ, we must be committed to the things He was committed to.
As believers, we should each have minds like Christ. In today’s daily devotion, practice working toward having one mind, being in one accord.
Final Word
Our daily devotion highlights the importance of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul’s impassioned plea is also for each of us. As believers, we are called by God to be like-minded, have the same love, and walk in one accord with one mind. In your daily devotion, commit to these truths in obedience to God’s word. Commit to unity as a believer who is desirous to fulfill Christ’s joy.
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